Chapter Thirteen:
Susannah took her sister’s hand and led her over to the bed, “Exactly what do you mean by living your life again? What do you think that entails, besides finally sleeping in your bed?”
Nora stands up and walks over to the fireplace. She picks up a picture of the four of them, running her finger over his face, “Isn’t that enough for now?”
“Maybe…maybe not,” she pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing, “What about James Cass?”
Nora turns around, a flash of anger in her eyes, “What about him?”
“Are you going to continue seeing him?”
“I haven’t been seeing, James Cass, Susannah,” she turns and looks back at the picture once again, “a few dinners doesn’t equal dating.”
“Does he know that?”
Ignoring her question, “Even if I wanted it to go somewhere, which I don’t, all that’s changed now.”
“Why?”
She turns around and looks at Susannah again, “How can you not know why. I’m pregnant, Susannah…”
“And…”
“And nothing, I can’t even think about trying to start anything new with someone when I’m pregnant with Bo’s child.”
“Is being pregnant the only reason?”
Nora was silent for a moment. She turns and looks back at the picture on the mantle, “Why are you asking me all these questions? Can’t the reason I already gave be enough?”
“If I believed it was the only reason, then yes it would be.” She walks over and turns Nora’s face, forcing her to look at her, “I’m not wrong am I?”
Nora looks at her sister, the tears welling up in her eyes, “I don’t want to be with anyone else…I don’t want to date anyone else, that part of my life ended when Bo died. All I want to do now is raise our children, and I’m going to continue to be the type of DA that would make my husband proud. Bo wanted this for me, and he supported me throughout the entire race. My children and my job will be my life. I don’t have room in my life,” she turns and looks at the picture, “or in my heart for anyone else.”
Susannah reached out and wiped the tears that had fallen onto her sister’s cheeks, “Now was that so hard?”
Nora laughs through her tears, “You really are a pain, Susannah.”
Susannah pulls her sister into a warm embrace, “I know I am, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Nora smiles and kisses her sister’s cheek, “No I wouldn’t.” she walks over and picks the boxes up off the bed, “How about a movie and some popcorn?” Susannah nods, Nora walks towards the door, “You pick the movie; I’ll go make the popcorn.”
Susannah watched her sister walk out of the room. Her sister’s heart had been broken once again and the one person who could heal it wasn’t there. She knew her sister would survive, but at what cost.
*~*
Bo woke up just before dawn that morning, with plans on spending the day with Marty and Patrick. He walked into the dining room, everyone was gone except for Michael. Michael looked up from his newspaper, “Good morning, Ryan. I’m sorry we weren’t awake when you came home last night.”
“That’s no problem at all. I was able to meet with Patrick Thorneheart…”
“And…”
“Well my name is Bo Buchanan. I’m from Llanview, Pennsylvania. I’m married, well I think I’m married, to a woman named Nora, and I have a son and a daughter.”
“What do you mean you think you’re married with a son and a daughter? Patrick wasn’t sure?”
“Apparently there has been only a small amount of communication between them and those they left behind in America. He told me that Nora and I had gotten divorced about five years ago, but there’s just something that doesn’t feel right about that. He said that he wouldn’t be surprised if Nora and I have gotten remarried.”
“And the children?”
Bo stands up and pours himself a cup of coffee, “I’ve seen images of a little boy and a baby girl, and when I saw them, I felt such a connection.”
“Was he able to tell you anything else?”
“No, but I’m going to be going back over there today. I need them to tell me the story of my life. I want to know about my life with Nora. I can’t return to her unless I remember my life. I can’t have her hurt more than she already is.”
“But what if you don’t remember?”
“Then I’ll figure it out from there,” He stands up and walks over to the large French doors, overlooking the garden, “There’s just something, a feeling, I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s there. I know I can remember them, if I just give myself the chance to.”
“Well I wish you luck, and if I can help you with anything at all, I hope you know you can ask.”
“I’m going to take you up on that right now. First thing I need to know is exactly how I died.”
“Let’s go use my computer in the study. It’s quiet in there and we won’t be disturbed.”
Michael sat across from Bo who sat behind in his desk, pen and paper ready. Bo reached out; his hand paused just over the on button. Michael notices his hesitation, “What’s wrong?”
Bo looked up at Michael, “Once I start this I can’t go back…”
“Don’t you want to remember?”
“There’s nothing I want more, Michael.”
“Then I don’t understand the problem.”
“I guess I’m just afraid I’m going to find out something that I don’t want to find out.”
“Like what?”
“I’m afraid that this feeling I have every time I hear Patrick talk about Nora or the feeling I get every time I close my eyes and I see her out in the distance, is just that a feeling; that it’s all just a dream.”
“But what if it isn’t, what if everything you’re feeling is true and all you need now are the facts to help you remember?”
“Then I’ll spend every waking hour finding my way back to her…”
*~*
Nora woke up just before midnight. She picked up the remote and turned off the TV, picking up the bowl of popcorn and setting it on the table beside the bed. She covered Susannah up and grabbed the other blanket off the chair, wrapping it around her. She walked down the hall and checked on Destiny and then Matthew. She walked into Matthew’s bedroom and covered him back up. Something fell to the floor when she adjusted his blankets. She bent down and picked it up, a sob catching in her throat when she realized what it was. She knelt down beside Matthew’s bed and tucked the photo of him and Bo taken at the Eagles game, a few days before he died. Its curled corners told the tale of a broken hearted little boy who held the photo each night, missing his daddy.
Nora kissed his forehead and brushed the hair from his eyes, “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so very sorry.”
She wrapped the blanket tighter around her as she made her way downstairs. She walked over to the fireplace and started a fire; she stared into the dancing flames for a few minutes. She turned and walked into the kitchen to make herself a cup of herbal tea; hoping it would help her fall back asleep. A few minutes later she walked back out into the living room and turned on the TV pushing “play” on the VCR. Suddenly his voice filled the room and she turned and looked at the images on the screen. She thought “Adam’s Rib” was still in the VCR but instead it was video of Matthew’s awards banquet at school. She picked up the remote, ready to stop the tape, but something kept her from doing it. She sat down on the couch and stared at the screen, letting the tears freely fall as she watched.
*~*
Bo sat and stared at the screen in front of him. He looked up at Michael, and back at the computer and read the article out loud, “Commissioner of Police Bo Buchanan and District Attorney Nora Buchanan were married in a private ceremony on February 20, 2004 at St. James Church, Llanview Pennsylvania. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Andrew Carpenter and attended by only their children, Matthew Buchanan and Rachel Gannon.” He looked at Michael, “She must’ve had a daughter from a previous marriage.” He scrolled through some other articles, stopping on one dated May 17, 2004, “Gabrielle Medina was found guilty today for the November, 2003 kidnapping of Matthew Buchanan, son of Commissioner Bo Buchanan and DA, Nora Buchanan. Gabrielle Medina is the former fiancée of Commissioner Buchanan.” Bo shakes his head, “My ex-fiancée kidnapped my son.”
Michael leans across the desk, “Bo, it said you found him in Argentina and brought him home. He’s safe with his mother, you saw to that.”
“I know, I just wish I could remember”, Bo started to read through the rest of that days edition of The Banner, “In other news, Commissioner Bo Buchanan and his wife welcomed a new addition to their family today, Destiny Renee Buchanan came into the world at 10:30 p.m. weighing in at 6lbs 10.oz.” Bo looked up and smiled, “I knew it; a baby girl.”
Michael smiled, “See you just have to trust in those feelings you have and let them lead you home.”