From Forbidden Fruit to Love Renewed ~ Chapter 3

As she sees the ring in front of him she transcends time - to a happier place a happier time...

*flashback* -

She drops the ring on the sofa, "I'll go get popcorn."

He grabs her arm, "No, no, no, no, hey, look - I'll be honest with you. I never did come up with a good way, I just, I'm sort of - just the conventional way."

"Well give it a shot."

"Sit down"

"Thank you" He throws a pillow on the ground, kneeling on it, then laughs, "I feel like Jimmy Stewart."

A smile plays on her lips as she is remembering, "No, no, don't do Jimmy Stewart." He opens the box "Nora."

"Nora, Nora," he gets out of his chair walking towards her, seeing the tear escape from her eyes, "Nora, what's wrong?" He has no idea that she saw or heard what he was doing.

She shakes her head, shaking off the past, "Wrong?" wiping her eye, "Nothing," she smiles a weak smile.

Placing his hands on her arms just below her shoulders, "Come on, Nora, that tear didn't look like nothing.

She breaks free from his grip, their closeness more than she can take, "I said it was nothing, Bo. I just came to talk to you about tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"The father son banquet."

"Oh right," nodding his head.

"You didn't forget did you?"

"Of course not, I'll pick Matthew up from school."

"Great," she turns to go, feeling the small box in her hand, "Oh I almost forgot" She handed him the box containing the small American flag pin, he smiled at her as he took it, "I noticed you misplaced yours." Smiling, she once again turned to go.

"Nora, about last…"

She cuts him off, "No regrets, remember?" She walks away, turning one last time, "Oh and can you pick up Matthew, I have the last case on the docket tonight."

With that she disappears, as soon as she is out of sight, she allows the tears that have been threatening to fall.

"No problem" he says as he turns away playing with the small box in his hand adding quietly, "Right, no regrets, but that's easier said than done, Red." He sighs as he sits back in his chair and closes his eyes, reliving the previous evening in his mind. "I hope I am doing the right thing Red, for all our sakes." He calls the Palace to reserve the terrace.

*~*

A month since Harrisburg

She stands in the kitchen; her fingernails impatiently clicking against the counter top, as she waits for the microwave to finish popping her popcorn. A quick glance at the clock tells her he'll be there soon.

"Mom, come on, Dad'll be here in a few minutes."

She walks out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of popcorn in one hand a bottle of root beer in another, "I know, Matthew. I know all too well when your father will be here," she whispers to herself.

She settles on the couch; flipping through the channels trying to find anything other than reality TV to watch. "They just don't make TV like they used to", she sighs.

"You talking to yourself again, Nora?"

She turns abruptly at the sound of his voice, "Bo! You scared the pants off me."

"I'm sorry,” pointing over his shoulder, “the front door was unlocked."

"No, its fine, I just wasn't expecting you for another..."

Matthew runs down the stairs launching himself into Bo's arms, "Dad!"

"Hey there, champ. You ready to go?"

"Yep."

"Alright, kiss your mom goodbye and let's get this show on the road, it's a long drive to Philly."

Matthew kisses Nora goodbye and rushes out the door dragging Bo behind him. She sets her bowl down on the table and picks up her root beer. She walks into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator door; placing the root beer back on the shelf and pulling out the good stuff, shaking her head she returns it, grabs a glass, some ice and the bottle of bourbon, 'It’s going to be another long night.’

Matthew talked the whole way to Philly and back. Bo enjoyed these times alone with Matthew but he missed doing things, with the three of them too. They haven't done anything together, the three of them in a long time. 

*~*

10 more days have passed

He sits on the terrace with his morning coffee looking out over the city. A quick glance at his watch tells him that she'll be there soon to drop him off. He looks down at his mug and sets it on the table with a sigh.

He walks back into the living room and sits down on the couch. Gabrielle joins him a few minutes later, leaning her head against his shoulder; trying to make him acknowledge her presence. She's about to say something to him when there is a knock on the door.

Bo stands up and opens the door; a huge smile on his face for the first time all morning. "Hey there, buddy. Nora."

Nora just nods; a weak smile on her face, "Alright, champ, be good for your Dad and Gabrielle. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye mom."

Leaning down to kiss him, "Bye, buddy. Bo, Gabrielle."

Matthew runs into the garret and straight back to his bedroom where he throws his bag down on his bed. He grabs his bat and ball and runs back out into the living room. Grabbing Bo's hand, "Come on dad we're going to be late for the softball game."

Looking back down the hallway where Nora just was, "Alright, let's go."

*~*

Another week has gone by

A day in the park, just Mother and Son; kicking the soccer ball back and forth…

"Mom?"

"Yeah, tiger?"

"Why don't you ever come with Dad and me when we do things like you used to?"

"Well, your Dad and I want you to have time to be together just the two of you since you've missed out on so much time."

"But we used to do things together all the time."

"Things are just different now that's all, okay?"

"Okay."

*~*~*

Two months after Harrisburg

A football game; just Father and Son, mustard stains on his brand new jersey

"Dad?"

"Yeah, champ?"

"Why doesn't Mom come with us to games anymore? She used to come."

"Your Mom doesn't really like all this sport stuff, pal. So she leaves it for us to do."

"But she used to come all the time… in the beginning."

"Well, I guess things are just different now, that's all, okay?"

"Okay."

 

*~*

 

The week following the football game she walked into the palace stuffing papers in her briefcase, running the other hand through her hair. Renee shakes her head as she sees the disheveled look of her friend. Something had happened in the last month, something knocked her world off kilter, she just hadn't been the same since Harrisburg, but ‘what could it be?' Renee wondered as she continued to stir her drink.

Nora looked around, her vision blurry. She squinted trying to pick Renee out of the crowd. She holds her hand to her head steadying herself as she begins to walk forward. Renee notices the grimace on her face and the tentativeness of her step and decides to go over to meet her, "You, alright, darling?"

"I'm fi..." she grabs the ledge as she loses her balance.

"Darlin, you are not fine," She takes her elbow and leads Nora to the table.

As soon as she is seated she lays her head in her hands, "I only need a minute to steady myself."

"Here," she hands her a glass of water, "drink this."

She takes the water, gulping it down then closes her eyes, but the spinning gets worse, "Oh my God," she stands up almost knocking Gabrielle over as she heads to the restroom.

Renee follows her pushing Gabrielle out of the way "Well!!!" she huffs as she smoothes her clothes and heads to the bar to wait for Bo, "how rude!"

As Nora walks out of the stall Renee hands her a wet towel, "That's it darlin' were going to the hospital, now."

*~*

They exit the elevator and head towards Larry's office. "Renee, really I'm fine, I just need something to eat. We really don't need to be bothering Larry this evening. I'm sure he's busy."

"Nora, darlin' you almost passed out twice, you got sick in the restroom. I say that's more than just a need for some food. When was the last time you ate anyway?"

"This morn..."she shakes her head, "last nig..." Renee just stares at her.

"You're going to see Larry, darlin, no more arguments."

Resigning herself to her fate, she follows Renee to Larry's office hoping he doesn't confirm her hidden fear. 'Would it be so bad?' she wonders....a small smile taking form on her lips...the smile turning to a frown as she remembers "Gabrielle, I've given this marriage thing a try so many times that I never thought I'd be ready to do it again, but I am Gabrielle, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” Shaking the thought off ‘No, it can't be, I was lucky to even get pregnant with Matthew, this is definitely just lack of food'

A soft knock on the door; her hand firmly in Renee's, no turning back…

"Come in." Looking up from his desk, "Nora, Renee, to what do I owe the pleasure of having the two most beautiful red heads in Llanview here in my office." He stands to greet them at the door, noticing the pasty look of Nora's skin, he holds out his hand just as she collapses. He picks her up and quickly carries her into the nearest exam room.

Renee goes to the phone, and begins to dial her favorite stepson’s number, just as she is about to put the last number in, she remembers the last conversation she had with Nora about Bo….

*flashback*

"You don't seem to be coming by the house anymore with Bo and Matthew. As a matter of fact I never see the three of you together anymore? Is everything ok?"

"Everything’s fine, Renee. Bo has his life with Gabrielle and I have mine."

"But what about Matthew?"

"We're Matthew's parents; we'll always have that connection, Renee. But that's all."

"Do you honestly believe that's all?"

"Doesn't matter what I believe, that's just the way it is, the way it has to be."

"But Nora,"

"No buts Renee, please, just leave it alone.” She glances at her watch, “I'm sorry but I've got to go pick up Matthew.”

She puts the phone back in the cradle and walks towards the examining room.

Nora finally comes to a bit disoriented as her eyes focus on her surroundings, "Welcome back, Nora."

"What happened?"

"You passed out in my office."

"I just need something to eat - I tried to tell Renee,"

"Well, food would be good, but…”

"But what?"

"Nora...."

"Larry, just tell me"

His look grows concerned. He isn't sure how she will take this news. She begins to worry, "Is it the tumors? Are they back?"

"No, no NOTHING like that."

"LARRY!" her patience is growing thin.

He decides its best to just bite the bullet, "Nora, you're pregnant."

"No, that's impossible."

"Impossible?"

A blush rises to her cheeks, "well no, not exactly impossible," looking up at him, "I mean…I was lucky to get pregnant with Matthew, what are the chances twice after the diagnosis."

"I'm a doctor of science, but I have seen a lot of things science can't explain, some things are just…"

"Don't say meant to be, Larry...this wasn't meant to be.” Larry just nods his head; confused by her reaction and goes to find Renee as Nora reaches for her purse.

*~*

Larry finds Renee in the hallway pacing, "Is she okay?"

"Physically, yes, but she needs to take care of herself...." Realizing he is bordering on the line of Dr/Patient privilege, "is Nora seeing someone?"

"No not that I know of, and I'm sure I would know. Why?"

"Right," a puzzled expression crosses his face, "well you can go see her now."

She looks at Larry as he walks away, 'Why would he think she was seeing someone?' She begins to think back, the dizziness, the nausea, her complaints of always being tired, “Oh my!" she heads to the door.

As Renee talks to Larry, Nora looks at the picture she has pulled from her purse, a snapshot from the three of them at a Phillies game, ‘What have I done?’ she thinks as she rubs her thumb over his smiling face. Lost in her thoughts she doesn’t hear Renee enter the room. Renee clears her throat and Nora rushes to put the picture away and wipe away a tear before Renee sees it..."Too late, friend, I caught you." She goes to sit by the bed, “So you wanna tell me about it?”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Darlin, I wasn’t born yesterday…” Nora smiles knowing she is busted. “Just tell me one thing.”

Nora nods her head, “Ok.”

“Is it Bo’s?”

TBC....