Chapter Thirty Four:
They finally made it back to their bedroom as the sun was coming up. She laid her head on his chest as he held her tight. They fell asleep only to be awoken a few hours later by their son running into their room….
“Come on, Mom. Wake up, I’m starving.”
“Whoa, whoa, Matty just relax, let your mom sleep.”
“But I’m hungry,” he whined.
“Well your old man here can fix your breakfast to, you know.”
Bo picked him up and threw him over his shoulder…
“Yea! Can we have pizza?”
“Hmmm…pizza for breakfast, that’s a possibility.”
They were halfway down the hallway when they heard her yell after them….
“No pizza for breakfast, Buchanan.”
“Aww, mom,” echoed down the hallway as father and son made their way downstairs.
Nora decided since she was already awake that she would take the time to soak in a hot bubble bath before their doctor’s appointment later that morning.
Bo walked back upstairs after giving Matthew his cereal. He stood in the doorway, watching her stand in front of their closet, wearing only his LPD t-shirt, which because of her growing stomach, no longer covered as much as it used to. She leaned over to pick up a shirt that had fallen, giving him a view that took his breath away.
“Wow, what a sight.”
Jumping at the sound of his voice, “My God, Bo, don’t you know that you’re not supposed to sneak up on your pregnant fiancée and scare her half to death?”
Walking up to her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “I’m sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Oh there will be plenty you can do, but not right now my dear. You’ll have to wait until later.”
“Oh I think we have plenty of time before we have to leave.”
“Sorry Commish, not until our son is off to school.”
Looks down at his watch, “Oh good, that’s in twenty minutes.”
“Do you think you can control yourself until then?”
He looks at her as she taunts him by slowly lifting her t-shirt. “Um…if you’re going to keep that up I think I better go check on Matty.”
“Good idea.” He starts to walk towards the door. Hey, Buchanan, meet me in the bathroom in twenty minutes. I’ll be saving your place.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Nora grabbed her robe and walked into Matthew’s room to say goodbye while Bo cleaned up breakfast…
“Mom?”
“Yeah, Matty?”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine sweetie. What would make you think I’m not okay?”
“I heard you scream last night. I got out of bed and listened to you and daddy talking and I heard you crying.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m fine. I just had a bad dream and daddy was making sure I was okay.”
“Are you, okay I mean? You wouldn’t just tell me you were cuz I’m a kid, right?”
“I promise Matthew, I’m fine.”
“And the baby’s fine too?”
“Yeah the baby’s fine too.”
{{doorbell rings}}
“Okay, buster that’s Stevie’s mom, time to get going.”
“Bye mom, I love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie.”
Matthew ran downstairs and gives Bo a hug goodbye.
Kneeling down in front of him, “Okay, champ, your mom and I will pick you up from school today right before lunch. We’re going to have a special Buchanan family day out.”
“Okay daddy. I love you.”
“Love you too, champ. We’ll see you soon.”
Bo stood on the porch watching them pull out of the driveway. He closed the front door and smiled when he heard the water running upstairs. He whistled as he walked up the stairs knowing he had to be the luckiest man alive.
Llanview hospital…
In true Bo and Nora fashion they arrived just before their appointment. The nurse showed them back to the room where they waited for Dr. Conklin to arrive…
“Well Buchanan, you ready to see our daughter for the first time?”
“You’re still convinced it’s a girl, aren’t you?”
“You bet I am.”
“Care to place a friendly wager?”
“You’re on. So what are the stakes?”
“Okay, if you’re wrong and it’s a boy then you owe me… (stands up and whispers in her ear a mischievous look on his face.)
Smiling, “Hmm…that has possibilities, too bad you’re gonna lose though. Alright my turn, if you’re wrong and it’s a girl than you owe me…a night as my slave.”
“Your love slave?”
“Maybe.”
“Suddenly this has become one bet that I just may look forward to losing.”
He leaned in and kissed her just as Dr. Conklin walked in the room.
Smiling, “So how are we today?”
“We’re perfect.”
“Well first things first. All of your test results came back normal so there’s nothing to worry about there.”
“See I told you, honey, nothing to worry about.”
“Hey, what have I told you about my worrying?”
“Yes dear. Everything probably turned out okay because you worried.”
“That’s right.”
Dr. Conklin just smiled as she walked over to turn out the light. Out of all her patients she couldn’t think of a couple who were more in love or who deserved a happy ending more than Bo and Nora. She walked over and turned the machine on.
“So are we ready to see this little one?”
“We’ve been waiting for the past five months.”
“Okay, Nora now remember…”
“Yeah I remember…nice and cold.”
Within in seconds an image appeared on the screen in front of them, instantly bringing tears to their eyes. Nora looked over at Bo and knew this was a bittersweet moment for him. He had missed this with Matthew. Their eyes locked and he knew what she was thinking. He took her hand in his and kissed it, reassuring her that he was just fine.
“Do either of you want to know what you’re having?”
At the same time, “You bet we do.”
“Alright then, the newest member of the Buchanan family is…a little girl.”
Slaps his arm, “Told you, Buchanan.”
“Oh you sure did.”
“Heh! Just remember you’re going to have to pay up tonight, mister.”
“Looking forward to it, Red.”
Laughing, “Don’t think I even want to know what the two of you are talking about. Anyway, congratulations you guys and we’ll see you in a month.”
Bo and Nora left the doctor’s office hand in hand as they looked at their little girl’s first pictures. They picked up Matthew from school and stopped at the diner for a late lunch. They told Matthew all about the baby and that he was going to have a baby sister. He was so excited and couldn’t wait to tell his Grandpa Asa, Grandma Renee, Grandpa Len, and Grandma Selma, not too mention Rachel. After making all of his phone calls, Matthew hands his father back his cell phone and they take off for an afternoon playing in the park, and a game of miniature golf….which of course Bo loses.
At the same time back at the hospital a nurse walks out of Dr. Conklin’s office and hands him an envelope. He gives her a quick kiss on the cheek and walks out to his car.
He arrives at his apartment 10 minutes later, envelope in hand. He turns on some music before pouring himself some red wine. He also pours another glass of wine for someone who is no longer in his life. He sat down on the couch and opened the envelope. He slowly sipped his wine, lying back on the couch, staring at the black and white images he held in his hand….