Chapter Sixteen:
The room seemed to close in on Nora as she leaned into Asa’s embrace, her back resting against his large chest, awaiting the doctor’s response, trying to read his face, “There was some bleeding when they were trying to close up, but he bounced back quickly. They both made it through surgery just fine. Matthew’s recovery will be slow and we’re going to have to monitor him closely for rejection. His father’s recovery is also going to be slow and in some ways more difficult, recovery is always longer for the person who donates.”
She stepped out of Asa’s arms and walked closer to the doctor, “How long will they have to remain in the hospital? Is it possible for them to be able to recover back in Llanview?”
“They should remain in the hospital for a week post surgery in order for us to monitor him for rejection and Mr. Buchanan will need to be watched closely for any post operative complications such as infection or bleeding. None of these complications are likely but are all possibilities.”
“When can I see them?”
Mathew has already been brought up to recovery so you’ll be able to see him in just a few minutes, however we’ll have to limit his visitors for the first 24-48 hours.”
“And my hus…and Bo?”
“He should be on his way up to recovery now. It will take them some time to get him settled so we’ll take you down to see your son and by then Mr. Buchanan will be ready for visitors.”
“Thank you…for everything,” she turned around and faced her family. She walked back into Asa’s warm embrace, she looked up at him and smiled through her tears, “Thank you for being here”, stepping out of his embrace and looking around the room, “all of you.”
Rachel walked up to Nora and hugged her, “Go see that little brother of mine and give him a big kiss from me and then go spend some time with Bo, but after that I’m taking you back to the hotel Asa booked for us.”
“Rach…”
“No arguments mom, you need to rest. You need a decent nights sleep.”
“I need to be here, Rachel. I need to be close to them”, she reached out and placed her hand on her cheek, “I promise I’ll take care of myself and the baby.”
“Fine, but I’ll be here first thing in the morning with a decent breakfast.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it, now please go rest,” looking around the room, “all of you need to rest.”
Nora left a few minutes later when a nurse came into the waiting room to take her to Matthew’s room. She walked over and sat down next to his bed; taking his hand in hers, “Hey baby. The doctor’s say you’re going to be just fine thanks to your daddy. He really came through for us Matty, just like I always knew he would,” Matthew stirred but he never opened his eyes, she gently stroked his hands as he slept, “You just rest now angel. I’m going to go check on your dad and then I’ll be back” she leans in and kisses his forehead, “I love you my angel.”
Nora closed the door and made her way to the room next door. She walked over to his bed and sat down beside him. She took his hand in hers and brought it up to her lips, “You are one amazing man Bo Buchanan; how did I ever get so lucky to have you back in my life?...”
“It was fate, Red.”
She looks up and smiles through her tears, standing up to kiss him, “Hi ya, handsome.”
“Hey, there gorgeous.” She sits down on the bed and lays their intertwined hands in her lap, “Have you seen Matthew yet, how is he?”
“I just came from his room. He made it through the surgery just fine. The doctor’s say he’ll make a full recovery…thanks to you.”
“I’m just glad I was finally able to be there for him when he needed me. I…I wasn’t there before…when he was sick the last time. We could’ve lost him before we even knew he was ours.”
“Don’t go there, Bo, please. It’s in the past and you’re here with him now. You saved our son’s life.”
Bo just nodded as he looked down at their hands resting on her lap, “How are my girls doing?”
“We’re doing fine.”
“Are you sure because the last time I spoke to you on the phone, just before you left, something wasn’t right and I could tell.”
“Bo…”
“I’m right…aren’t I?”
“Nothing happened, we’re fine, every things fine.”
“You’re hiding something from me, Nora. I can tell. When we decided to give this thing between us another chance we promised no more secrets; no more shutting the other out. Now please, Nora, talk to me.”
Nora stood up and walked over to the window. She stared at the busy streets of Buenos Aires. A chill ran down her spine as she thought back to what she had almost done. “I…I went to see Gabrielle.”
“Why, why would you go there?”
“I wanted…I wanted to kill her,” she whispers as she continues to stare out the window. “I wanted to make her pay for what she did to Matthew, for him being in the accident. When you told me what had happened I just snapped. I guess, I went dead inside and I wanted her to suffer.”
“What happened, what did you do?”
“I…I went into the closet and took the gun from the box. I hid it in my purse and got in my car and drove over to the Palace. I got on the elevator and I made my way up to her floor. I kept reaching into my purse and holding onto the gun…the metal was so cold against my hands, almost as cold as the feelings that were running through me. I was just about to exit the elevator when”, she turns around and looks at him, “when the baby kicked. I don’t know what happened exactly but suddenly I knew I couldn’t do it. I knew that Matthew was going to be alright, that he hadn’t died and my seeking revenge for his kidnapping in this way was wrong. So I called the office, and had them issue a warrant for her arrest and had her brought in. We had the evidence we needed according to the report that Antonio sent to the LPD after questioning the driver.”
“Is that all…you’re telling me everything?”
“Well…”
“I knew it, come on spill.”
“I changed my mind about carrying through with my revenge but I told her that if”, her voice cracks for a moment, “I told her if Matthew died she did to.”
“Red….”
“I know; I know it was stupid. I told you I just snapped. I was just so angry. She had gotten a second chance with her son, Max had lost his life giving her that second chance, and she honored that by taking your son away from you, from us,” she walked back over and sat down beside him, “I just wanted her to feel the same fear I was feeling.”
Bo reached out and took her hand pulling her down beside him on the bed, “It’s over now, honey. Matthew’s fine, I’m fine, and the people responsible for his kidnapping are locked up.” Bo pulled her close when there was a knock on the door.
“Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan, your son is awake and he’s asking for you”, the young nurse said as she walked over to check the monitor beside the bed.
“Thank you,” she stood up and kissed Bo, “I’ll be right back.”
“No, Red. You go sit with Matthew until he falls back asleep and then I want you to go get some sleep,” she started to speak, “No, Nora you need to rest.”
“Fine, I’ll ask the doctor’s for a cot to be put in Matthew’s room.”
“That’s my girl. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Nora leaned down and kissed him again before heading over to Matthew’s room. He smiled a small smile when he saw her walk through the door, “Mommy…”
“Hey, my sweet boy.”
“Where…where am I mom?”
“You’re in the hospital sweetie, don’t you remember?”
“Oh…yeah I remember now. Is daddy okay?”
“He’s fine, sweetheart. He’s sleeping in the other room.”
“Okay…”, he yawned. “Mom?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“I’m going to go back to sleep now, okay?”
“That’s a good idea, champ. You need to get some sleep. I’m going to have the doctor’s bring in a bed for me and I’ll be here when you wake up, okay?”
“You promise? You’re not going to go away again?”
“Go away?”
“Yeah, Al’s mom told me that you and daddy had gone away and that I couldn’t be with you anymore. That God had made her my new mom.”
Nora fought back the tears as she looked down into his confused and sad eyes, “No, baby mommy and daddy aren’t going anywhere, and we never will.” Matthew just nodded as he closed his eyes; minutes later he was asleep. Nora leaned down and kissed his forehead, “I love you, Matty. I’ll see you in the morning.
Nora walked out into the hallway and sat down in the chair and laid her face in her hand and cried. She cried for her son and the pain he had gone through, thinking that his mother and father had been taken from him. The anger tried to gain control over her once again but Bo’s words echoed in her head, “It’s over now, honey. Matthew’s fine, I’m fine,” She was brought out of her thoughts by a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and smiled at the young nurse.
“The bed you requested has been placed in your son’s room.”
“Thank you.” Nora stood up and walked into Matthew’s room and laid down on the bed. She soon fell into a fitful sleep; a feeling of dread creeping into her dreams.