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- As Things Change
- Part IX
Rex pulls up in front of the house and Matt climbs out of the
car. “Thanks for taking me out, Rex. I did pretty good for
the first time, didn’t I?”
-
- “You weren’t bad
for a beginner. Just don’t tell your dad you’ve tried
it when he takes you out for your first try.”
-
- Matt smiles. “I’ll
be cool. You going to come in?”
-
- Rex opens his door. “For
a minute. I need to get home to Lauren.”
-
- They make their way up the
steps, Matt opens the door and Rex follows him into the living
room. His parents are sitting on the couch. Nora looks up and
smiles. “Hi, sweetie. Rex. Where have you two been?”
-
- Matt shrugs. “Just out.”
-
- Rex cuffs him behind the
head. “We grabbed a bite to eat and hung out. And before
you ask, Mrs. B, no girls were involved.”
-
- Nora smiles. “I’ll
take your word for it, Rex.”
-
- Bo eyes his partner. “Anything
else we should know?”
-
- Rex shrugs. “Nope. I
gotta head home. Lauren will miss me.”
-
- Nora smiles. “I’m
sure. Any progress on your little project?”
-
- “Not yet. Friday is
‘P’ Day.”
-
- Matt turns to Rex. “What
project?”
-
- “My secret, squirt.”
-
- Bo smiles. “Good luck
with that. We’re leaving early on Saturday. You’ll
have to call me and let me know how it goes.”
-
- Matt looks at his father.
“Where are you going?”
-
- “WE are going to the
ranch.”
-
- “No way! You mean it
this time? You always say we’re going and it never happens.”
-
- Bo nods. “This time
it’s a go. We’re taking Asa’s plane down.”
-
- “All right! How long
are we staying?”
-
- Nora smiles at her son. “We
haven’t decided. We’ll see how it goes.”
-
- “Sounds like fun.”
Rex turns to Matt. “I’m gonna head out.”
-
- Nora gets up and gives him
a kiss on the cheek, winking at him. “Good luck.”
-
- “Thanks. Enjoy your
vacation. I can’t wait to hear all the tales of you on a
horse.”
-
- She laughs. “Dream on!”
-
- Rex opens the door and leaves.
Nora returns to the couch to sit beside Bo. Matt takes a seat
in the chair opposite them. “So how come we’re going
to the ranch?”
-
- Bo shrugs. “Do we need
a reason? I thought you wanted to see the horse Asa picked out
for you.”
-
- “I do! It’s just
that this is out of nowhere. What aren’t you telling me?”
-
- Nora shakes her head. “Nothing.
We just thought it was the perfect time to go since you don’t
have baseball and your camp isn’t for another month.”
-
- “Wait, you’re letting
me go to camp too?”
-
- Bo nods. “We talked
about it and if that’s how you want to spend part of your
summer, it’s okay with us.”
-
- “We know you want to
be more independent, sweetie. You are right that you’ve
always done the same thing every summer and this is something
new. I spoke to Stevie’s mom and I feel better about letting
you go.”
-
- Matt stares at them. “Who
are you and what have you done with MY parents?”
-
- Nora laughs. “We’re
trying something new too.”
-
- Matt gives her a hug. “I’m
going to go study before my real parents show up. Thanks!”
-
- Nora returns his hug. “You’re
welcome. What tests do you have left?”
-
- He pulls away. “Just
history tomorrow and algebra on Thursday and that’s it for
the year. I can’t wait!”
-
- Bo grins. “Don’t
study too hard. We’ll see you in the morning.”
-
- “Night!” Matt calls
as he jogs up the steps.
-
- Nora turns to Bo. “He’s
sure in a good mood.”
-
- “It happens occasionally
– even with moody teenagers. Let’s hope it holds out
while we’re at the ranch or it will be a long trip.”
-
- “I think he’ll
have so much to explore, he won’t have time to be ornery
with us.”
-
- Bo shrugs. “Maybe…
Until he decides there’s nothing but cattle on the ranch
– no friends and no girls.”
-
- “I’m sure he’ll
live. And I suspect there will be plenty of girls at the ski
camp to make up for it.”
-
- Matt picks up his cell phone
and dials, waiting for his friend to pick up. “Stevie, you
are not gonna believe this.”
-
- “What’s up, Buchanan?”
-
- “My parents are letting
me go to the ski camp.”
-
- “Are you serious? What
did it cost you?”
-
- Matt shakes his head. “Nothing.
They just said I can go. Your mom talked my mom into it, so be
sure to thank her for me. And we’re leaving on Saturday
to go to Grandpa’s ranch.”
-
- “In Texas?”
-
- “Of course in Texas.”
-
- Stevie frowns. “Wait,
so you’re leaving town as soon as school is out? For how
long?”
-
- “Not sure. They said
we’ll see how it goes. But I’ll be back in time for
ski camp.”
-
- “That sucks. What am
I gonna do here all by myself?”
-
- Matt shrugs. “Maybe
your parents will let you come down and hang out if we’re
down there for a few weeks. I’ll ask my dad.”
-
- “I don’t know anything
about riding a horse.”
-
- Matt chuckles. “So you’ll
learn, city boy. You can always stay in Llanview if you’re
chicken.”
-
- “I’ll think about
it. Getting thrown off horses and dodging cow patties is not
exactly my idea of fun. So how did your driving lesson go? Did
your parents find out?”
-
- “It was awesome! Rex
took me out to an abandoned drive-in.”
-
- “Why would you go there?”
-
- Matt shrugs. “Rex is
kinda spastic about scratches on his car. He didn’t want
me to hit anything. It was like an obstacle course. I’m
going to see if he’ll take me out again tomorrow and maybe
we can try a real road.”
-
- “That would be helpful.”
-
- Matt nods. “When is
your test?”
-
- “Next week. You’ll
be gone before I get my license so we won’t be able to go
cruising.”
-
- “No, but we can when
I get my own license. I think we’ll be celebrating my birthday
at the ranch and then I can test as soon as I get back.”
-
- “That would be cool.
I gotta run. My mom’s on my case about the history test
tomorrow.”
-
- “I gotta study too.
Later.”
-
- Matt tosses his cell phone
onto the bed and digs his history book out of his backpack, leaning
back on the bed and cracking it open.
-
-
- Next day…
Bo walks into the PI office and sees Rex sitting at his desk.
He barely looks up. “Hey, partner. What are you doing here?
Shouldn’t you be getting ready to go out of town?”
-
- Bo sits behind his desk,
hitting the power button on his laptop. “Not much to do
– throw a few pairs of jeans and tee shirts in a suitcase.
No fancy duds on the ranch.”
-
- “And Nora agreed to
that?”
-
- Bo smiles. “I think
she sees the benefits of casual attire.”
-
- Rex rolls his eyes. “Not
gonna touch that one. So you told Nora about me proposing?”
-
- Bo nods. “Was it supposed
to be a secret?”
-
- “No, but I didn’t
think you’d tell anyone.”
-
- “I didn’t tell
‘anyone’ I told Nora. She won’t say anything to
Lauren if that’s what you’re worried about.”
-
- “Maybe not but she sees
Marcie at the Center all the time…”
-
- Bo shakes his head. “Nora
won’t say anything to Marcie either – she knows they’re
friends. Don’t sweat it. So you’re all set for Friday
night?”
-
- Rex nods. “I’m
making shrimp linguini. It’s Lauren’s favorite. She
loves it when I cook for her.”
-
- “Do you think she suspects?”
-
- “I don’t think
so. Although she did almost find the ring last week and she thought
I was crazy when I wouldn’t let her in the closet. I just
want to get this over with. I can’t stand the pressure.”
-
- Bo laughs. “You think
it’s bad now, wait until she’s planning a wedding.”
-
- Rex groans. “I’m
hoping she will keep it small and simple.”
-
- “You really are a dreamer,
Balsom. Be sure to call me and let me know how it goes. I can’t
wait to hear.”
-
- “What do you mean by
that? You think she’ll say no?”
-
- Bo shrugs. “Do YOU think
she’ll say no?”
-
- Now Rex is nervous. “No!
At least I didn’t until right now. Do you know something
I don’t?”
-
- Bo grins. “Take it easy,
Balsom. I’m just teasing you. You’re not much of a
prize but Lauren doesn’t seem to mind. Go figure.”
-
- “Thanks for the vote
of confidence, partner.”
-
-
- Matt walks into his history
class and takes a seat. Raven enters shortly after and sits beside
him. She leans over toward him, whispering. “You ready for
this, Buchanan?”
-
- He glares at her. “I’m
not helping you. I already told you that.”
-
- “I knew you were a straight
arrow.”
-
- “Just leave me alone.”
-
- The teacher walks into the
classroom, holding up the test. “Books under the desk. You
have one hour.” He hands a stack of tests to the person
in the front chair of each row and the tests begin to filter
back.
- Raven leans toward Matt again.
“Hope you studied last night.”
-
- “Bug. Off!”
-
- “No talking during the
test, Mr. Buchanan.”
-
- “Sorry, Mr. Winters.”
-
- “Let’s get started.
Hold on to your papers until the bell. Then you’re dismissed.
Eyes on your own papers.” Mr. Winters takes a seat behind
his desk. Matt concentrates on his paper, unaware that Raven
is sneaking a peek at his answers…
-
-
- Nora walks into Andrew’s
office. Miki looks up from her toys. “Candy!” she yells,
getting up and launching herself toward Nora. She leans down
and scoops the little girl up. “No candy this time, little
one.”
-
- Andrew smiles at them. “What
brings you by, Nora?”
-
- “I’m just getting
everything in order before we leave town. I won’t be in
the rest of the week. I have too much packing and organizing
to do.”
-
- “Play with me,”
Miki says, pointing at her dolls. Nora puts her down and sits
on the floor as the little girl gathers up the dolls.
-
- Nora smiles up at Andrew.
“I see you’ve set up daycare in your office.”
-
- Andrew sighs. “Mrs.
Floyd is still job hunting. She’s on a second interview
today, so we’re hopeful.”
-
- Nora runs her fingers through
Miki’s hair as she sits on Nora’s lap, playing with
her dolls. “It’s such a shame she doesn’t have
a real family.”
-
- “I know. I’m trying
to find something permanent for her but haven’t found the
right fit yet.”
-
- Nora looks up at him. “What
would you say if I told you I’m thinking about it?”
-
- Andrew is surprised. “You’re
thinking of adopting Miki?”
-
- Nora nods. “You don’t
think we’re too old, do you?”
-
- “No, no that’s
not what I was thinking at all. I just… I didn’t see
that coming.”
-
- “I spoke to Bo about
it the other night.”
-
- Andrew gets up and joins
Nora on the floor. Miki hands him a doll. He smiles as he takes
it, looking at Nora. “What does Bo think?” he asks
quietly.
-
- Nora shrugs. “His reaction
was pretty much like yours.”
-
- “I think it’s great
that you would consider taking Miki…”
-
- “But you think I have
my hands full with Matthew.”
-
- Andrew smiles. “I didn’t
say that.”
-
- “No, but you’re
thinking it. Bo thinks I’m having a ‘soon-to-be-empty-nest’
crisis because Matthew will be going to college in a couple years.”
-
- “Is he right?”
-
- Nora looks down at Miki,
who is pulling the clothes off her doll and handing them to Nora
to put back on. “I don’t know. I just look at her and
she’s so sweet and innocent and she has no home and no real
mommy. It just breaks my heart…”
-
- “I know. And it’s
very much like you to want to jump in and help.”
-
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