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As Things Change - Part I   This is a followup to ‘Bonds of Trust’ and a continuation of the previous stories. Bo and Nora are married and Matthew is nearing his 16th birthday. As you would expect, Nora and Bo are still dealing with the challenges of a teenager, their family, friends as well as their own issues. The story continues…   Matt and Stevie saunter into the kitchen. “Mom! You home?” Matt pulls open the fridge. “Coke or Dew?”   “Dew.” Stevie answers, pulling open the pantry door and grabbing a bag of chips.   Matt sets the sodas on the table and pushes open the door. “Mom?” He looks into her office as he makes his way to the living room. He sees a note on the coffee table, picks it up and reads it as he heads back to the kitchen. He tosses the note on the table, taking a seat opposite Stevie. “Mom’s at the Center. We can make a frozen pizza?”   Stevie takes a swig of soda. “Nah. I have to head home soon. My mom will kill me if I’m late for dinner again. Where’s the video game?”   “My room.” Stevie follows Matt upstairs and into his cluttered room. Matt digs through a pile of clothing, finding the box underneath. He tosses it to Stevie and sits on the bed.   “So, did you ask your folks about camp this summer?”   Matt shakes his head. “Nope.”   “Why not? What else are you going to do with no baseball?” Matt looks away. “Holy shit! You haven’t told them you quit the team, have you?”   Matt shrugs. “Not exactly.”   Stevie laughs. “Which means you haven’t. I’m definitely outta here before they get back. You know they’ll find out. What are you waiting for?”   “My dad will be cool with it.”   “You wish. If you think he won’t flip out, why not just tell him?”   “I will. Just not right now.”   Stevie shrugs. “Your funeral, man. Have you been out driving yet?”   “My dad promised this weekend.”   “Is that why you’re not telling him about baseball?”   “No.”   “Liar.” Stevie looks at his watch. “I gotta head out. Thanks for the video game.”     Nora sits behind her desk, frowning at the file she was perusing. She scribbles notes on the pages as she flips through them, pausing to check her watch. Marcie walks into her office, carrying two sodas. “Hi, Nora. Soda?”   Nora looks up, grateful for the distraction. “I’d love one, thanks. How are you?”   Marcie hands her a soda, taking a seat in front of her desk. “Okay, I guess. Michael has been working a lot lately. It gets kind of lonely, you know?”   Nora nods. “I remember what it was like when Bo was Police Commissioner. He was very dedicated to his job, so I couldn’t really hold it against him.”   Marcie sighs. “Yeah, it’s hard to begrudge all the people Michael helps every day. He really is a wonderful doctor.”   “Maybe you just need to get him out of his work mode for a bit. When was the last time you went on vacation?”   “Never. We didn’t even get a honeymoon because we couldn’t afford it.”   “Well, I’d say you’re certainly due.”   Marcie stands. “That’s a great idea, Nora. I’m going to call Michael and tell him to put in for some time off for the summer.”   She rushes out, leaving Nora waving behind her. “Glad I could help…” Nora shakes her head as she turns her attention back to the file in front of her. She is startled when her office door suddenly slams shut. She looks up to see the smiling face of a small latino girl standing in front of the door.   The girl looks to be no more than three, with wavy black hair captured in pigtails surrounding her round face, her dark brown eyes dancing with mischief. She puts her finger to her lips in a ‘shh’ motion, giggling softly. Nora is about to ask her name when she hears Andrew yelling in the hallway. “Mikayla! Miki, where are you?”   The young girl claps her hands over her mouth, giggling and pressing herself against the wall as the door opens and Andrew pokes his head through the opening. “Hi, Nora. Have you seen a little girl come through here?”   Nora smiles as her eyes cut to the wall behind the door. “Haven’t seen anyone,” she says innocently.   Andrew follows her eyes and pulls the door open, spotting the young girl pressed against the wall. “Miki, what did I tell you about playing hide and seek?”   She throws up her hands, giggling uncontrollably as Andrew leans down and scoops her up. Nora smiles at the mischievous toddler. “I thought you were well past the hide-and-seek age, Andrew.”   He frowns at her. “Funny, Nora. I’m keeping an eye on her this afternoon as a favor to a parishioner. I’ve forgotten how active little ones are.”   Mikayla has her head on Andrew’s shoulder, peeking sheepishly at Nora. She finally lifts her head. “Hi! My name is Mikayla but I like Miki.”   Nora grins. “Hi, Miki. I’m Nora.”   “I’m 3!” she says, holding up her chubby fingers.   Nora laughs. “I’m not telling you how old I am.”   Andrew smiles. “Sorry to disturb you, Nora.”   “It’s no problem. She’s a welcome distraction.”   Miki spies the jar of M&Ms on Nora’s desk. “Candy!” she squeals, trying to jump out of Andrew’s arms.   He holds her back. “I think sugar is the last thing you need. You have plenty of energy.”   She holds up her fingers again. “2 candies, please?”   Nora smiles, digging into the jar. “I think that’s a fair request.” She stands and reaches across the desk to Miki’s outstretched hand, dropping the candy in her palm.   Miki smiles at her again. “Thank you!” she says, popping the candy in her mouth.   “You are very welcome.”   Andrew smirks at Nora. “Yeah, thanks. We’ll be back later when it kicks in.” He turns to leave.   Miki grins at Nora over his shoulder, waving her chubby hand. “Bye bye!”     Bo walks into the living room, seeing Matt slouched on the couch, watching TV. “Hey, son. Is your mom home yet?”   “Nope.”   “How was school?”   “Fine.”   Bo takes a seat beside Matt. “What’s so interesting?”   “Nothing, really.”   Bo glances at Matt. “Are you going to change before we meet Asa at the Palace?”   He looks down at his jeans and rumpled tee shirt. “Nope.”   Bo rolls his eyes. “Don’t you think you should?”   “My clothes are fine, Dad.”   “Let’s hope your mother thinks so.”   Matt sighs as he gets off the couch. “Fine, I’ll change if it will spare me one of Mom’s famous freakouts.”   “Good choice.” Bo grabs the remote, switching on a ballgame as he stretches out on the couch.   Ten minutes later, Matt’s back downstairs dressed in a pair of khakis and a polo shirt. Bo nods approvingly as he looks at his watch. “Your mom called and she’s going to meet us at the Palace. Let’s go.”   “Can I drive?”   “No way.”   “Come on, Dad. I have to learn sometime.”   Bo pulls open the front door. “Not today.”   “That’s so unfair,” Matt huffs as he follows Bo out of the house.     Nora hurries into the restaurant, checking her watch as she approaches the hostess stand. “Hi. Is Asa here yet?”   “Of course, Mrs. Buchanan. He’s at his usual table. Follow me.”   Nora shakes her head. “I know my way.” She makes her way into the restaurant and over to a table in the corner, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek. “Hello, Asa.”   “Nora. So I guess you’re not the reason Bo is late.”   She takes a seat opposite him, giving him a smirk. “Not this time, Asa.”   As if on cue, Bo and Matt walk into the restaurant and make their way over to the table. Bo leans in and gives Nora a kiss. “Hey, Pa. How are you?”   “You’re late,” Asa growls. He turns his attention to Matthew and his tone softens. “How are you, Matthew? You’re growing every time I see you.”   Matt playfully puts his elbow on Bo’s shoulder. “Yep, this is my little buddy now. I’m taller than he is.”   Bo grins as he pushes him away. “Just as long as you remember who’s boss.”   Matt chuckles. “That would be Mom.” He gives Nora a quick kiss as he slides into the chair beside Asa. “Dad made me change clothes, even though I was dressed the way I always am.”   Asa winks at him. “You can wear whatever you want, boy.”   Matt grins smugly at Bo. “Thanks, Grandpa.”   Bo ignores him, taking a seat and addressing Asa. “So, what’s with the command dinner performance?”   “I need a reason to have dinner with my family?”   Nora takes Bo’s hand under the table. “He didn’t mean it like that, Asa. We just wondered if you had some sort of an announcement to make, that’s all.”   Asa takes a sip of his bourbon. “No announcement. I just wanted some time with my grandson.”   Bo nods. “You can have him over any time you want.”   “How ‘bout this weekend? I’ve got a new filly I want to take out for a run. I thought we could spend the weekend at the lodge.”   Matt shakes his head. “I’ve got plans with Stevie on Friday night and Dad promised I could go out driving this weekend.”   Bo frowns at him. “We could do that next weekend, Matt.”   “But you promised! All the other guys have been out but you keep blowing me off.”   “I could take him,” Asa volunteers.   “Not likely, Pa. When was the last time you drove?”   “I still know how.”   Matt is excited. “Sure he does. That would be so cool, Grandpa.”   Bo shakes his head. “Not gonna happen, Matthew.”   “Why not?”   Nora gives her son a stern look. “Let’s not have this discussion here, okay?”   “But Mom!”   “You heard me, Matthew.” He starts to protest but she holds up her finger. “Not another word.”   Renee walks up to the group, seeing the frowns on Bo and Nora’s faces. She puts her arms around their shoulders, leaning to give them each a kiss on the cheek. “It’s so good to see all of you. Have you ordered yet?”   “We just arrived.”   Renee signals to her waiter. “Let’s get you started with some drinks then.”   “Boy could I use one,” Bo mutters under his breath as Nora gently kicks him under the table. He sits up a little straighter. “I’d love a drink, Renee.”   Asa watches with a huge smile on his face, enjoying the drama. Matt rolls his eyes at his parents, burying his head in the menu as the waiter hurries over to take their drink order.   Renee frowns as Asa orders another bourbon. She turns her attention to Matthew. “Did Asa tell you the news? Are you going to the lodge this weekend?”   Asa shakes his head at her with a warning look. “What are you talking about, woman?”   Nora notices Asa’s look. “All right, Asa. What is this dinner really about?”   Matt looks hopefully at Asa. “What news, Grandpa?”   Renee looks at Asa. “You haven’t told him yet?”   Asa takes a sip of his bourbon. “The boy has other plans this weekend.”   “Oh.”   Matthew is interested now. “What is it, Grandpa?”   Asa shrugs. “It’s nothing.”   Bo is watching his father. “What are you up to, Pa?”   Nora looks at Asa suspiciously. “We’re not talking about a new filly here, are we?”   Asa sips his bourbon with a smirk, not bothering to answer. Renee shakes her head at Asa. “Well, let’s get this group some dinner.” She hurries away from the table in search of the waiter.   Matthew turns to Asa. “What is the news, Grandpa?”   He shrugs dismissively. “It’s no big deal. It’ll keep.”   Matt nods. “We can do it another weekend, okay?”   “Sure thing, son. Another time.”   TBC