Chapter Thirty:
She woke up the next evening still wrapped in his arms after their lovemaking and nap. She looked into his sleeping face and smiled. She began to get out of bed until a hand reached out and grabbed hers; pulling her back onto the bed.
“Where are you sneaking off to?”
“You’re daughter and I are hungry.”
“You’re convinced this baby is a girl, aren’t you?”
“Yep, just like I knew Matthew was going to be a boy and how I knew deep down in my soul that he was yours. Just something a mother knows, I guess.”
“A daddy’s little girl. I like the sound of that.”
“So do I.”
He pulled her on top of him and held her against his chest.
“When are we supposed to be at Pa and Renee’s?”
“In about an hour and a half.”
“Oh well I guess we’re going to be late.”
Kissing him passionately, “I guess so.”
Their lovemaking went from their bedroom, to the shower, and ended in the back of the limo that Asa had sent for them.
They walked into the living room where Asa, Renee, Vicki, and the rest of their family were waiting. Everyone watched them as they walked hand in hand into the living room. The guests smiled and winked at each other. Bo and Nora’s flushed faces and the twisted strap of Nora’s dress gave away the cause of their tardiness.
Running up to his parents, “Mom, Dad you’re late. Why were you late?”
Renee walks up and stands next to Nora, reaching over to untwist her strap, “Yeah Mom, Dad why were you late”, she asked with a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes.
“Oh…um we lost track of the time. We’re sorry if we scared you by being late, sweetie.”
“Oh, I wasn’t scared, I’m just starving and Grandpa said we couldn’t eat until you guys got here.”
Bo and Nora both looked at each other and spoke at the same time, “He’s your son alright.”
Everyone in the room laughed as Asa walked over and picked Matthew up, hanging him over his shoulder; tickling him all the way into the dining room.
Bo grabbed Nora and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“So are you ready to tell the rest of the family about the wedding and the baby?”
“I can’ wait. Hopefully Matthew hasn’t already spilled.”
She wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss just outside the dining room. Their son walked out into the hallway and rolled his eyes.
“They’re kissing again, Grandpa”, he shouted. “Come on, I’m hungry.”
They broke their kiss and looked at each other.
“Our son bellows.”
“Just like his father does when he’s hungry.”
Bo leans in and gives her another quick kiss before they walk into the dining room.
They enjoyed a lively family dinner filled with a lot of laughter. Pretty soon Matthew fell asleep and the adults went back into the living room. Nigel took Matthew up to his bedroom where he could sleep until it was time to go. Kevin, who was recently divorced from Kelly, and Blair apologized for having to leave and told them they would get together soon. Joey and Jen were sitting on the couch talking with Vicki, while Natalie, Jessica and Cristian sat on the other couch. Nora had escaped for some quiet time on the terrace before they made their announcement. Bo was busy talking to Renee and Asa when he saw her walk out.
She leaned against the railing looking out across the night sky. She held her wrap tight against her chest, shielding herself against the cold February air. A falling star shot across the sky and as she had done so many times since their first date; she made a wish. He’d been standing in the terrace doorway watching her. He approached her when he saw the falling star.
He wrapped his arms around her, as she leaned her body against him “Did you make a wish?”
“Yep.”
“Wanna share it with your fiancé?”
“What if it doesn’t come true? Then we’ll both be disappointed”
“Have all your other wishes come true?”
“The really important ones have.”
“Then this one will too. So are you going to tell me?”
Pauses for a moment, “I wished that the dance we call life will never end for us.”
He turned her around and took her face in his, “No worries there, Red. You’re stuck with me for the rest of your life.”
“I’m counting on it.”
He kissed her as the sky above them put on a show. Asa walked out onto the terrace and cleared his throat. They turned around and looked at Asa and stared laughing.
“Didn’t mean to interrupt but you said you had an announcement to make. Now I suggest you get on with it before I get any older.”
Nora shakes her head and smiles. She walks up to Asa and hugs him.
“I love ya, you big cowboy.”
“Love you too, darlin’, placing a kiss on her forehead. “Now let’s get out of the cold.”
Asa took Nora’s hand and they walked back into the mansion, followed by a smiling Bo. Everyone gathered around waiting for Bo and Nora’s announcement.
Bo took Nora’s hand and brought it up to his lips before he spoke.
“As many of you already know Nora has accepted my proposal and we’re going to give this whole marriage thing another whirl, and this time we’re going to make it work. We had planned on waiting until the fall for the wedding, but an unexpected but pleasant development has come up and we’re going to have the ceremony in April.”
“Well the sooner the better if you ask me. So what’s the development?”
“I was getting to that, Pa.”
“Sorry, please continue.”
“Thank you, well folks as of September there’s going to be another Buchanan to add to the family tree”, he said with a huge grin on his face.
“Well hot damn, I knew someday the two of you would make me a Grandpa again.”
“You’re a hopeless romantic, old man”, Renee says as she looks lovingly at her husband.
Everyone gave them their congratulations and well wishes. Asa passed out the bourbon and the champagne and they toasted to the wedding and the future Buchanan.
Bo noticed that Nora was getting tired so he brought Matthew downstairs. They walked out of the mansion hand in hand; Matthew still asleep on his father’s shoulder.