Their Lucky Charm

The sun shone through her bedroom window, washing the room in different shades of orange and red. Nora rolled over, in her sleep, and reached for the pillow on the empty side of the bed; drawing it tight against her chest. A smile spread across her face as she dreamed, her mind imagining it was Bo she was holding close. She continued to dream the early morning hours away, awaking with a start when her dreams became more real.

She sat up against the headboard and drew her legs up tight against her chest. She looked down at the pillow lying beside her; then leaned her head back, lightly tapping it against the wall, as she berated herself, “Snap out of it, Nora. You’ve got to stop thinking about him.”

The radio beside her bed flipped on at exactly 6 A.M., “Good morning Llanview, it’s Wednesday, March 10^th. Today in local news...”

Nora turned off the radio and walked into her bathroom, turning on the shower before walking back over to the counter. She looked in the mirror, appraising her appearance, “Well, kid, another year older.” She shakes her head and prepares for her day.

An hour later she was walking down the hallway to make sure Matthew was awake. She walked into his empty room and checked over the clothes he had laid out on his bed. She shook her head and picked up the shirt he had chosen and walked over to his closet, placing it back on the hanger and choosing one that matched. She laid it down on the bed and went downstairs to start her coffee.

Matthew came barreling into the kitchen a half hour later, “Morning, mom.” He plopped down in the chair beside her and reached for the cereal box she had placed on the table.

She watched him pour his cereal. Just like his father when it came to food she thought to herself. She downed the last sip of coffee and reached for the pot to pour herself another cup, “Morning, sweetie. So do you have everything you need for school?”

“Yep.” He said; his mouth half full.

They sat in silence for a few minutes while he ate his cereal and she drank her coffee. She was reading over a file for the hearing she had that morning. Occasionally she would glance over at him. She had told Matthew that she didn’t want to celebrate her birthday that year, but deep down she never thought he would listen to her.

Matthew jumped up and ran out of the kitchen when the doorbell rang, “Dad’s here!” He said over his shoulder, a huge smile on his face.

Nora picked up her coffee cup and walked out into the living room. She smiled when she saw Bo kneeling on the landing, their son’s arms wrapped tight around his neck.

Matthew let go of Bo and ran to get his backpack. He walked into the living room and stood beside her as she gathered her belongings, placing them in her briefcase. Nora looked up at him and smiled, “Thanks for the ride, Bo. They promised me my car would be done yesterday.”

“It’s no problem, Nora”, he said as he took her briefcase from her before she dropped it, “Here let me help you with all of this.”

She smiled and followed him out of the office, just as Matthew was coming down the stairs, “You read to go, sweetie?”

Fifteen minutes later they pulled up in front of Matthew’s school. Matthew leaned across the front seat of Bo’s car and accepted a quick kiss from both of his parents. They sat together in the car and watched their son disappear behind the school doors. They drove onto the station, passing the time by discussing their latest cases.

The DJ on the radio announced the date once again and Nora glanced over at Bo, trying to see if he had any reaction to what the DJ had just said. He stared straight ahead, quietly humming the song that had just begun to play. She wondered if father and son had spoken or if he’d actually forgotten her birthday. No, she thought to herself, even after all their time apart Bo would not have forgotten her birthday.

Bo looked over at her as she stared out the window. A huge smile spread across his face as he watched her for a moment. He could practically see her wheels turning. He knew exactly what she was thinking about. Matthew had told him that she had decided she did not want to celebrate her birthday, but he knew her, and he knew without a doubt that deep down she did not mean a word of it. He looked at her one more time before they pulled into the parking garage, trying to keep from laughing. This sure was going to be a lot of fun, he thought to himself.

Nora climbed out of his car, slamming the door a bit harder than she should have. Bo smiled, once again trying to suppress his laughter, God, how he’s missed this. She walked ahead of him into the station, turning immediately towards her office. Bo walked towards the station, a smile spreading across his face when he heard her door close, once again harder than it should have.

Marcie ran up to him, “You look happy today, Commissioner Buchanan.” Bo looked back towards Nora’s office and then back down at Marcie, “I am, Marcie.” He said with a smile.

Marcie just smiled and rolled her eyes, “Those two,” she mumbled to himself.

He turned and walked towards his office. He sat down behind his desk and put his feet up, interlocking his fingers behind his head. That’s how John found him when he walked through the door minutes later.

John shook his head and sat down across from him, “What’s with you?”

“Nothings up. You know you’re the second person that asked me that today.” John just shook his head again and began to discuss the case.

At the same time Nora stood behind the prosecution’s table; throwing the last of her files in her briefcase. The opposing lawyer walked up to her and extended her hand, “Congratulations, Mrs. Buchanan, you presented one hell of a case.” Nora was about to correct the lawyer’s error when her cell phone rang, “Excuse me, Nora Buchanan…fine…yes I’ll be there in a few,” she said. Nora said goodbye to the other lawyer and walked out of the courtroom.

She walked towards Bo’s office and opened the door without knocking, “You wanted to see me?” she asked a bit coldly.

Bo bit his lip, trying to keep from smiling, “Lunch?”

She shrugged, “Sure, better than eating alone I guess.”

Bo grabbed his coat and walked her to her office. Fifteen minutes later they were walking into the diner. Halfway through the meal they both got called back to the office. Neither of them saw each other again for most of the afternoon. By the time Bo arrived at her office to take her home she was at full steam.

Bo stood outside her half opened door and listened to her as she ranted to herself, “After all those years together he should know,” she mumbled to herself, “He should know better. Even when we weren’t together anymore he still acknowledged my birthday, at least.”

He let her continue to rant for a few minutes before he stuck his head in, “Hey there, you ready to head home?”

She quickly turned around, “Bo…um…how long have you been standing there?”

“Just got here,” he said with a smile, “So you ready?”

She picks up her briefcase and purse and turns off the desk lamp, “Yeah, Matthew’s home waiting for me.” She said as she walked passed him. He shook his head and closed his office door.

They arrived at her house twenty minutes later. Bo followed her into the house, dropping his coat on the bench beside the door, “I’m going to go say hi to Matthew and then I’ll head out.”

Nora just nods as she walks into her office. She presses play on her answering machine. Selma’s voice wishing her happy birthday filled the quiet house, followed by Rachel’s. She sits down behind her desk with a sigh, “Well at least they remembered.”

Bo came into her office, Matthew hanging off his back, “Hi mom.”

“Hey there sport. How was your day?”

Bo puts him down. Matthew walks over and stands beside her desk, “It was great. I got an A on my math test.”

She stands up and walks over to him, pulling him close, “That’s great, champ. I think that calls for a celebration, pizza or Chinese?”

Matthew pretended to think for a moment, “Rodi’s,” he could see her hesitation, “Pleeeeease, it’s my celebration.”

“Fine,” she said, tousling his hair.

Matthew looked over at Bo, “Can you come, dad?”

“Ahh, Matthew, I’d love to, but I have an important meeting back at the station that I’m going to be late for if I don’t get out of here. We’ll celebrate tomorrow night, how does that sound.”

“Sounds cool, can we go to Tiny’s Attic?”

“We’ll go where ever you want to, champ. It’s your celebration.”

Matthew walked Bo to the door while Nora went upstairs to change. Bo put on his coat and turned and looked down at Matthew, “You did a good job at convincing your mom to go to Rodi’s. I’m going to head over there to get everything set up, I’ll see you in a little while.”

“Mom’s going to be so surprised.”

Bo looked over at the stairs, “She sure is, Matt. She sure is.”

A half hour later Matthew was pacing around in the living room, “Come on, mom, I’m starving.” He shouts up the stairs

Nora stood at the top of the stairs, “I’m coming Matthew.” Matthew grabbed her hand when she reached the bottom of the stairs. He grabbed her jacket off of the bench and handed it to her, “What’s your rush?”

“I’m huuungry,” he said, almost whining.

Nora tried to stifle her laughter. Like father like son, she thought to herself, “Alright Matthew lets go.”

She looked around the empty parking lot in confusion, “I wonder where everyone is.”

Matthew shrugged, “Maybe they’re not busy on Wednesdays.”

She smiled at his childlike innocence, “Yeah, that must be it,” she unfastened her seatbelt and climbed out of the car. They walked in together hand in hand. Nora looked around the empty dining room, “I wonder if they’re closed.”

Matthew looked up at Nora and pointed to behind the bar. A smile spread across her face when Bo appeared through the door carrying a cake, “Happy Birthday, Red.” He said with a smile.

Matthew looked up at her, “Yeah, mom, Happy Birthday.”

She pulled Matthew into a tight hug before letting him run up to the bar. He sat down on one of the stools and began to spin around. She walked over to the bar and sat down. Bo stood behind the bar and set the cake down, “Make a wish, Red.”

Nora closed her eyes for a moment and then blew out the candles. Matthew and Bo clapped while Nora laughed at their excitement. Bo walked around the bar and took her hand leading her over to an already set table. He pulled out her chair, as Matthew slid into the chair next to her, and Bo sat across from her. The cook brought out their meals and they ate their dinner amongst lively conversation.

Their dishes were cleared away and Matthew finished his piece of cake in a hurry and went over to play around with the pool table. Nora looked over at Matthew and then over at Bo who was sliding a box across the table. She looked up at him and smiled, “Go ahead and open it.”

She reached across the table, her hand lightly brushing against his. She opened the card and began to read it out loud, “You thought I forgot,” she paused and looked up at him, “didn’t you. Don’t ever forget how well I know you, Red. Happy Birthday, Love, Bo.” Nora looked up at him, smiling through the few tears that began to well up in her eyes, “You do know me, don’t you Buchanan.”

Bo just nodded and smiled. She looked back down and began to unwrap the small box. She peeled back the tissue paper and looked down at the gold shamrock charm, lying on the cotton. She looked up at him, the tears beginning to fall freely down her face. She held it up, her emotions stealing her voice from her for a moment. She cleared her throat and then read the inscription, “MHB 2-22-99,” she flipped it over and read the other side, “Our lucky charm.”

“He’s the one thing we did right, Nora. He’s without a doubt the best of both of us.” He reached across the table and brushed the tears off her cheek, his touch setting her skin on fire.

She looks over at him and smiles, “He sure is Bo.”

Bo slid his chair next to hers, taking her hand in his, “I want us to try again, Nora. I want us to take a chance on being a family again.” He looks over at Matthew and then picks the charm back up off the cotton, “And with our lucky charm how could we go wrong.”

Matthew smiled as he stood by the jukebox. He dropped a quarter in, pressing his selection. The music began to play just as their lips touched, sealing their decision with a kiss.

THE END!!!!!