Chapter Twenty Three:

Bo woke up the next morning just as the sun was rising, casting a warm glow across her body. He propped himself up on his elbow and watched her sleep. She was lying on her stomach, the sheet barely covering the small of her back. He never thought he could be this happy again. He had everything he ever wanted and everything he’s ever going to need right here in this bed, and their little boy, asleep at his grandparents.

He reached out and brushed a stray hair out of her eyes. His gesture caused her eyes to slowly open, and as they did a smile crept across her face.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He leaned in again and kissed her. She rolled over on her side and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her on top of him and as the new day dawned their dance began again.

Christmas Eve….

Matthew was running around the room making sure that everything was ready for Santa to come. The cookies were on the plate, the milk was poured and the last minute details were finished. Matthew hurried off to bed. Bo and Nora sat with him on his bed, his head resting on his father’s arm as Bo read him the Christmas Story.

They walked out of his room and out into the living room hand in hand. They lay down together on the couch and watched an old movie. She fell asleep half way through the movie. He loved these quiet nights together, their son asleep down the hall. He shifted his weight beneath her, causing her to stir.

“What happened to the movie?”

“You fell asleep.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I’ve just been so tired lately.”

“It’s okay, honey. Having Matthew home on Christmas vacation, all the shopping you’ve been doing, not to mention the fact that you’ve gone back to work a couple days a week. I’d be surprised if you weren’t tired.”

“We better get to bed, daddy. A certain little man is going to be up before dawn.”

They walked back to their bedroom, his arm wrapped around her waist, her head resting on his shoulder. They paused outside their son’s room and closed his door, before heading to their bedroom. Bo stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to face her.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for what, Bo?”

“For that little boy in there, for giving us a second chance, and for loving me.”

“If anything I should be thanking you. After all the time you missed with your son, and after all that I did to you, you took me back. You have loved me and been there for me through one of the darkest times in my life. I love you, Bo.”

He kissed her pressing her body against the wall. He broke their kiss and took her hand leading her back towards their bedroom. He picked her up and laid her on the bed. Their passion intensified and they spent what was left of Christmas Eve making love.

Matthew woke up bright and early the next morning. He ran into his parent’s room and jumped on the bed.

“Mom, Dad wake up. It’s Christmas. Come on, Santa was here.”

“Okay champ, just give us a minute, okay.”

“Matthew, go get dressed, brush your teeth, and your dad and I will be out in a minute.”

“Okay, mom, but hurry, okay?”

“We will.”

Bo reached over and ran his hand down her legs. Nora reached over and shoved him.

“Bo Buchanan, we do not have time for that. We have a little boy anxiously waiting to open his presents.”

“But I want my present now.”

“No way, buster your present is going to have to wait. Now get up.”

“Oh well, you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

They spent the morning opening presents and laughing. Matthew fell asleep amongst the wrapping paper and boxes. Bo picked him up and carried him into his room. They had a couple of hours to kill before they were expected at Asa and Renee’s for dinner.

Nora was picking up wrapping paper trying to put some order back to the room. He walked up behind her and turned her around. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

“Bo what are you doing? This place is a mess. We need to get it cleaned up.”

“No, I’m going to get my Christmas present and then I’m going to give you yours.”

“Well I do have a real Christmas present for you. So if you can gather some restraint I’ll go get it.”

“I’ll try to control myself.”

Nora walked over to the table and pulled out an envelope. She sat back on the bed and handed the card to him. He opened it and looked up at her a look of confusion on his face.

“It’s a picture of a jukebox.”

“It’s not just a picture of a jukebox; it’s a picture of the jukebox that’s going to be delivered next week.”

“You bought me a jukebox?” (thanks for the awesome idea, Tish)

“Yeah, and it’s filled with all of our favorite songs.”

“I love it. Did you say it was going to be delivered in a week?”

“Yeah.”

“Here?”

“Of course here. Where else would they deliver it?”

“Well how about here?”

Bo hands her a piece of paper. She unties the ribbon and opens it up. She looks up at Bo, her eyes brimming with tears.

“You bought our house back?”

“Yeah, I want us to raise Matthew in the home he was meant to be raised in.”

“I love you, Bo Buchanan.”

“I love you too, Nora Buchanan.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon showing each other just how much they loved each other. They left for Asa and Renee’s where Matthew got another truckload of toys and gifts.

They brought an exhausted Matthew home and put him to bed. Bo had noticed how tired Nora was getting towards the end of the evening. She helped him put Matthew to bed and then went into their room. When Bo came into the room she was already asleep. He kissed her cheek and covered her up.

“Merry Christmas, Red.”

The next few weeks flew by. They spent New Years at Asa and Renee’s and the week after that moving all of their stuff from the garret and Nora’s house and into the barn. Nora has gone back to work full time, and now that Daniel Caulson was run out of town, the stress level is a bit more manageable.

Before they knew it January was gone and it was the day before Valentine’s Day…

Nora was sitting in Larry’s office anxiously awaiting her test results. She had been feeling rundown and he was afraid she may have gone back to work too soon. He suggested she come in for some routine tests.

“Alright Larry, spill it. What’s going on?”

“As you know we ran your blood through a series of tests to determine whether you were anemic, if you had contracted any sort of infections…”

“Larry, just tell me okay. I’m a big girl I can handle it.”

“Nora there’s nothing physically wrong with you.”

“Then why am I so tired and rundown? And don’t you dare tell me I’m old.”

“I wouldn’t dare. Besides old ladies do not have babies.”

She stares at him for a minute, thinking about what he just said; positive she had heard him wrong.

“Can you repeat what you just said please?”

“Nora, you’re pregnant.”

“I’m pregnant?”

“Yes, about 9 weeks to be exact.”

“I never even suspected that. I mean I’ve been late but that’s not unusual so I never gave it a second thought. I didn’t think it was even possible.”

“Well obviously this wasn’t planned?”

“No it wasn’t planned at all.”

“Well congratulations.”

“Thank you, Larry.”

Nora walked into the house that afternoon and sat down on the couch. She laid her head back against the back of the couch and rested her hand on her stomach.

“Hey, there little one. Boy, are you a surprise. Your daddy and big brother are going to be thrilled. And I know the perfect time to tell your daddy all about you.”

At the same time downtown Bo is standing at the counter of the jewelry shop picking up a very special Valentine’s Day present for Nora. A young man walks into the store and starts browsing the counters, glancing occasionally at Bo. Bo is so engrossed in picking out Nora’s gift he never notices the young man. Bo pays for his purchase and walks out of the store and down the side alley towards the parking lot in the back. He’s daydreaming about tomorrow and exactly when he was going to give her the present. He’s so lost in his thoughts it takes a moment before the popping noise he just heard registers and the pain coursing through his chest sends him falling to his knees.