The Second Honeymoon

"You do understand, don't you, Bo?" Nora searched Bo's face for the answer. "I want to be married to you more than anything. And I'd love to go away on a nice long honeymoon, but I just got my baby back, and he just got me back."

"Sure, honey. I understand. Really. I do. I don't want to be away from Matthew more than a couple of days either," Bo replied truthfully. "A quick little getaway is good for now. We can plan a longer honeymoon in a couple of months."

Nora caressed his face and kissed him.
"I love you, Bo."

"I love you, too. And I'm going to plan the best three-day weekend you ever had,"
Bo said with the old twinkle in his eyes.

"We could go to the Llantano Lodge. Heck, we could go to Asa's lodge for all I care.
As long as I'm with you," Nora said.

"Yeah, we COULD do that," Bo said, but you could tell he had something more in mind.

Two days later Bo and Nora were married by Judge Fitzwater with just Rachel and Hank present.

"You go now, Mom, and have a great time," Rachel said to Nora. "Don't worry about anything. Mary Ann and I have everything under control with Matthew."

"And I'm just a phone call away if they need anything," Hank added.

"Okay, we're outta here!" Bo shouted as he grabbed Nora's hand and pulled her down the hallway.

"Bye Rachel, love you," Nora said laughing.

"Man, I don't think I've ever seen Bo this excited-- even when he and your mother got married the first time," Hank said to Rachel.

Rachel sighed. "Yeah. It's pretty amazing. They got a second chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love."

In the car, Bo and Nora kept looking at each other and laughing.

"I've always liked making you laugh, Red, but uh, I haven't done anything," Bo said.

"It's just that-- I can't believe this is all happening." Nora turned in her seat to look at Bo. Her eyes were shining. "We're together. We're married. We have a son!"

Bo took Nora's hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it. "I feel the same way. I feel exactly the same way."

"So where are you taking me? I get nervous in anything resembling a hostage situation," Nora said wryly.

"Secret. But I promise you'll like it a lot more than Colin's bedroom," Bo answered mysteriously.

"Oh, I gotcha, Buchanan. This is the way to the beach house. We're going to the beach house, aren't we?" Nora asked.

Bo said nothing.

"Ha! I guessed it, didn't I?" Nora pressed. I'm good, aren't I?"

Bo just hummed as he drove.

"Uh Bo... Bo, you missed it." Nora pointed back behind them. "That road back there-- that was the turn off to the beach house."

Bo was very nonchalant. "I know."

"OKAY. So my first guess was wrong. Where
could we be going?" Nora was determined to figure it out before they got there. "Let's see... there's no airport near here. And trains are out of the question!"

Bo rolled down the window and they could smell the fresh sea air. Gulls flew overhead, squawking like they were in on his secret.

Nora continued talking to herself. "All the hotels are on the other side of the bay.
There are no rental houses on this side of the shore that I know of."

Bo pulled up at an exclusive marina and yacht club. "Remember that song we danced to on our 60's date? Well, We're goin on a little 'sea cruise.'"

"Oh my word!" Nora jumped out of the car.
"Which boat is ours?"

"Boat? Boat, you ask? Would I take you on a mere boat, after all we've been through?
I don't THINK so," Bo teased.

"Well, what, Bo? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me! Which one is it?"

They strolled along the marina where several massive yachts were docked.

"Use your head, Red. Which one do you think it is?"

Nora stopped. "Well, it can't be any of these. I mean look at them! The 'Moonglow' must be a 70 footer. And 'Mood Indigo' is about 50. And the 'Red'...oh my word, Bo, no! You don't mean it? We're going out on that!?."

Bo was clearly proud of himself. He smiled that devastating smile as he walked in front of the yacht with his arms outstretched. "What could be more perfect than a yacht named the 'Red Dawn?' It's kismet, don't ya think?"

Out stepped the crew. "Welcome aboard, Mrs Buchanan. I'm Jack Spencer, your captain. This is my wife, Caroline, your gourmet cook. And this is Dusty, our first mate. We're ready to sail whenever you are."

Nora turned around and hugged Bo. "I don't believe this. It's magnificent!" Her eyes said more than words could.

She took Jack's hand and stepped aboard. The 'Red Dawn' was luxurious, even by yacht standards. It was 65 feet, slept ten, excluding the crew. All navigational functions were handled by computer. The galley was a full kitchen. The crew could be contacted by intercom from anywhere on the yacht.

The master suite was on the upper level with cherry furnishings and pine floors. Forget port holes. The windows went floor to ceiling for a 180 degree panoramic view. The king-sized bed was built on a platform that rotated to get the best view. The suite opened onto a private sundeck with jacuzzi.

"Oh my word," became Nora's mantra as she walked around the suite touching the marble dressing table and the state-of-the-art audio visual system. There were more than 500 CDs and videos in the home theater system. "I never knew such luxury existed."

"If this meets your approval, Red, we'll get underway," Bo said.

Nora could only nod in reply, but Bo could tell by her face that it was more than okay.

There was chilled white wine, fruit and cheese on the table.

Caroline buzzed on the intercom. "The menu for supper is on the desk. Fill it out at your convenience and shoot it to me by the pneumatic tube. Just call on the intercom if you need anything. Sunscreen, extra towels. You name it, I've got it. This is the Ritz Carlton of the sea."

Nora poured a glass of wine and looked out the window as they pulled away from the marina. "Come on, Buchanan, let's get out of these clothes."

Bo grabbed Nora from behind. "Now you're talking."

"I was talking about getting some SUN. We only have two-and-a-half days."

Bo leaned around and gave her the sad puppy look.

Nora looked at him over her shoulder with a flirty smile. "But who knows what will happen after I have a glass of wine." Bo kissed the back of her neck as Nora continued drinking her wine. She loved playing this game. They both did.

"Look at the view, Bo," Nora said.

"I am," Bo said, as he unzipped her dress.

"The wine is excellent. Don't you want some?" she asked.

"Yeah. After." Bo continued caressing her arms and kissing her neck.

"After what, Bo?" Nora teased.

"After I make love to my wife for the first time after our second marriage." (kiss)
Aboard the love boat. (kiss) Leaving all our cares behind. (kiss) For two-and-a-half days
of bliss."

Nora drank the last of her wine and put the glass down. She turned around facing Bo.
"So what's taking you so long?"
She pushed him onto the bed, and let her dress fall to the floor.

Their breathing was mixed with the soft sound of the Red Dawn ripping seamlessly through
the water.

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(Evening. The first day)

After a late supper, Bo and Nora curled up on the deck in the moonlight. They talked about Matthew and their life ahead.

"I really don't plan to work so much," Nora said. "I want to spend plenty of time with Matthew."

"And I will make you a promise right now," Bo said. "I will never knowingly put myself in danger. I want to be there for Matthew as he grows up."

"There is no better gift you could give me or Matthew. Thank you, Bo." She took his face in her hands and kissed him.

"Hey! I forgot something." Bo jumped up and disappeared inside the cabin. Then Nora heard a familiar sound.

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside, I got the month of May.
I'll bet you say what could make me feel this way--
My girl. My girl. Talking 'bout my girl."

Bo reappeared at the door. "May I have this dance?"

Nora didn't say a word. She rushed toward him and threw her arms around him. They danced under the stars-- first to 'My Girl.' Then to 'I Only Have Eyes For You,' and finally to 'When A Man Loves a Woman.' They probably didn't notice when the tape ended because they were already on the bed.

-------------------------------------------------(Morning. The second day)

The captain had anchored the Red Dawn off a small island where an old ship wreck provided an artificial reef. Bo and Nora spent the morning snorkeling. Nora was resting by holding on to a float tied to the yacht.

"Bo! Bo!," she screamed.

Bo surfaced. "What! What, honey?"

Nora was swimming toward the yacht. "Something touched my leg. It was big!"

Bo was closer to the yacht. He climbed onto the platform and pulled Nora up. She was shaking. "It was a ssshhh sshark.
I just know it."

"Honey, Jack didn't mention anything about sharks around here."

Nora was really frightened. "Well what was it? It was real. And it was big!"

Bo put his mask back on and jumped in the water.

No! Bo! What are you doing? Nora screamed. "Come back!"
Bo didn't surface. Then Nora saw bubbles.
She went into total freak out mode and started screaming for Jack and Dusty.

Bo popped up. "Red, you were right. These are dangerous waters. You never know 'What Lies Beneath.'"

As he was speaking something rushed to the surface with a splash. "Honey, meet Flipper. He apologizes for scaring you."

"Ack, ack, ack ack ack," chirped the dolphin.
It was right beside Bo... like a friend being introduced.

It took Nora a moment to comprehend what she was seeing.

Jack and Dusty came running with a gun and spear.
"Hey, sorry I didn't mention the dolphins," Jack said.
"They're harmless, but curious." Two more flipped in the air behind Bo, and Flipper went off to join them.

Bo was laughing hysterically by this time. "I can see the headline in The Banner: 'Lawyer and Police Commissioner eaten by killer dolphin.'"

"You're hilarious," Nora said sarcastically.
"Bo Buchanan, don't you dare tell Hank about this."

"Hank? Hank who?" Bo laughed.

"I'm not kidding, Bo. I'll never hear the end
of it."

"I won't tell a soul," Bo said with a devilish grin. "Lucky for you, my silence can be bought. Got anything to bargain with?"

"I'll come up with something, Buchanan."

"Can't wait. You know where to find me." Bo grabbed her arm and pulled her into the water. The three dolphins played behind them.

-------------------------------------------------
(Late afternoon. The second day.)

Bo took a shower and went out on deck.
When Nora got out of the shower she looked at him lying in a lounge chair drinking a Tequila Sunrise. The darkness was gone from his face.
He looked relaxed. But it was more than that.
He had a peace about him. It was a look Nora hadn't seen in a long, long time.
She dressed and walked outside. Bo was looking at the sunset. The sky was dark coral streaked with pink.

Nora ran her hand through her wet hair.
"It's beautiful isn't it?"

Bo turned around and stared at her. She had on a short white gauzy slip dress. The breeze blew it tight against her body. Her skin was light bronze from the sun. "It's nice," he said. "But compared to you, it's just another sunset."

She looked at him adoringly. "You really are full of it, ya know that? But thank you for saying it... thank you for thinking it."

Nora sat on his lap and took a sip of the Tequila Sunrise.
"Mmmm, yummy." She took the cool glass and moved it slowly across his face and down his neck. And then she did the same to herself.
Bo watched her... captivated.
A little drop of water rolled down her neck. Her eyes never left his as she put the glass on the table and leaned in to kiss him. "How private is this 'private' sun deck?"

"Oh, it's private, Bo answered quickly. "Very, very private-- except for maybe Flipper and
his gang of marauding dolphins."

"That's good to know," Nora said kissing him. "Very (kiss) good (kiss) to (kiss)
know."

"I'd say you could... uh... do pretty much... anything... you... want, Red."

And she did.

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(Morning. The third day.)

Bo and Nora lounged around and just enjoyed the beauty of it all as they headed back to the marina.

They took pictures of the crew, and had the crew take pictures of them on board and in front of the Red Dawn after docking.

"I'll have to get these pictures developed to prove to myself that this weekend really happened," Nora said as they walked away from the yacht.

"I'll find ways to remind you it happened," Bo said putting he put his arm around her.
"What can we do to make this weekend complete?"

They looked at each other. "See Matthew!"
And they ran hand and hand toward the car.

The End.