Chapter Twenty One:

Two weeks later….

They woke up this morning in each other’s arms, just like they have every morning for the past two weeks. She reached out and touched his face, the feeling of his morning stubble against her hand flooded her mind with memories, and she could feel the moisture building in her eyes.

Her tender touch had caused his eyes to slowly flutter open. He adjusted to the light in the room, and turned to look at her. He saw the tears welling in her eyes and was afraid she was regretting the way they fell asleep.

“What’s the matter, honey?”

“Nothing, I was afraid you were a dream at first.”

“I’m as real as it gets.”

“Good. I love how we fell asleep last night.”

“So do I.”

He leaned towards her and kissed her tenderly. She immediately responded to his kiss. They continued to kiss, occasionally coming up for air. If this was as far as she was able to go, this was as far as they would go. Their make out session continued as they got lost in each other. He finally broke the kiss. He looked down at her and ran his fingers across her slightly swollen lips. She kissed his fingertips.

“We should get dressed. Matthew will be home from Stevie’s in an hour. I’m going to go shower. I’ll be back in 20 minutes to help you get dressed. I think today is a day to celebrate. We’re going to take that cane of yours and give it a test drive. I think it’s time you get out of the house.”

“My therapist said I shouldn’t have too much trouble as long as I take it slow. I think a day out with the men in my life is just what I need.”

Bo leaned in and kissed her again before getting out of bed. She looked at him and laughed realizing he had fallen asleep in his clothes after dropping Matthew off at Stevie’s.

He walked towards the door and paused before walking out into the hallway.

“I love you, Red.”

“I love you too, Bo.”

Nora listened to him in the bathroom. She heard him turn on the water in the shower. She thought back to all the times when she would quietly sneak into the shower and wrap her arms around his waist. She usually took the soap out of his hand and picked up where he had left off. Their showers would always end with them making love in the shower, and sometimes again as they attempted to get dressed.

She wanted that part of their life back. She needed to get that part of their life back. She picked up the phone and called Rae Cummings. (okay I know she’s not a real shrink, but she’s the only one I could think of and I didn’t feel like making up a whole new character.)

“Rae, it’s me Nora.”

“Hi, Nora. How are you feeling?”

“I’m getting stronger every day thanks for asking. Listen I need to see you. Do you think you have time to see me later this afternoon?”

“I’ll make time. How does 2:00 sound?”

“Sounds perfect, Bo, Matthew and I are going to spend the morning and early afternoon together.”

“Then I’ll see you at 2.”

“Thanks again, Rae.”

“You’re more than welcome.”

Nora hung up the phone just as Bo walked into the room tying his robe around himself.

“I didn’t hear the phone ring.”

“Oh, it didn’t. I made a call.”

“Oh.”

Nora saw the look of concern on Bo’s face. She didn’t want him to think that she was keeping things from him ever again, not her feelings, not her needs.

“I called Rae Cummings, Bo. I think it’s time I talk to someone. I need to work on getting passed what Nick did to me.”

“Are you sure you’re ready?”

“No I’m not sure, but I know I have to do this. I need to get my life back so that we can get our life back.”

“Don’t push yourself, okay. We have plenty of time.”

“I know we do, but I need to do this, Bo.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“You know I think I need to do this on my own. I’m sure once I tell Rae that we’re back together and we’re working on becoming a family again, she’ll suggest that we come in and see her together, but for now I think I just need to deal with this on my own. I promise you that I won’t shut you out. I’ll never shut you out again. I’ll let you in, I promise.”

“That’s all I want. I’ll be here for you, forever.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“So are you ready to get dressed? I ran a bath for you.”

“Yeah, let’s get ready. Our son will be home soon.”

Bo helped her out of bed. She held onto his waist as he helped her steady herself. She winced as she started to walk. The pain subsided as she slowly walked towards the bathroom. She leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked into the bathroom. He sat her down in a chair that was in the corner of the bathroom. He lifted her t-shirt over her head and helped her finish getting undressed. He helped her into the tub and went out into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Twenty minutes later he walked back into the bathroom and helped her out of the tub. He helped her with her robe and together they walked out into the living room to eat breakfast. They talked about what they were going to do that day with Matthew and all about the Halloween party that night at the community center.

He helped her get dressed just as Matthew came barreling through the front door.

“I’m home!”

Bo and Nora came out into the hallway hand in hand. Matthew’s eyes lit up when he saw his mother walking, and his parents holding hands.

“Mommy you’re walking and you’re holding daddy’s hand.”

“Your old mom here’s getting better and to celebrate we’re going to have a whole day out together just the three of us. How does that sound?”

“That sounds way cool, Mom.”

“Matthew, your mom and I have something we want to tell you so go run and put your stuff down in your room and come out and sit with us, okay?”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No, baby no. You’re dad and I just need to talk to you about something. It’s nothing bad.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

Matthew runs and throws his bag into his room without entering it and runs back out into the living room.

“No way buster, you walk back in there and pick up that bag and put it where it belongs.”

“Sorry, mom.”

Matthew does what he’s told and returns to the living room a few minutes later. Bo picks him up and sits down on the couch with him, placing him on his lap.

“What do you want to talk to me about?”

“Remember when we were looking for mommy?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you remember what you asked me about being a family?”

“Yeah, I asked you when you found mommy if we could be a real family like some of the kids in my school.”

“That’s right. Well your mom and I have been doing a lot of thinking and we want to be a family too.”

“You do!”

“We do. So what do you think about that?”

“I think that’s the bestest thing I’ve ever heard in my whole life!”, he says, wrapping his arms around his dad’s neck. He looks back up at his parents. “Does this mean you’re going to get married?”

“Well, your dad and I haven’t really talked about getting married yet, but when we do we’ll make sure we tell you okay.”

“Okay.”

“Alright champ. Why don’t you go get what you want to take to the park and we’ll get going.”

Matthew runs into his room and returns to the living room, bat, ball and glove in hand. The Buchanan family left the garret that day, embarking on their first day as a real family. Little did they know there was someone lurking behind them, plotting to take it all away….

To be continued…