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Saturday had dawned sunny but cool. They dressed in their sweaters and jeans for a trip to the park, but after a short while they returned to the cottage. Matthew had a slight fever and was fussy. After investigating, Nora found a tooth just ready to burst through some very swollen gums. So, she spent the majority of the afternoon with a cranky boy on her hip which was making her cranky also.
Plans to eat out had been changed to plans to eat at home. Bo was going to throw steaks and potatoes on the grill. Nora was going to toss a salad. She made a list for some items he needed to pick up from the store.
Bo looked at the list Nora handed him. “Steaks, potatoes, salad, salad dressing, and brandy...is that all we need?” he asked.
“Brandy? Brandy isn’t on the list.”
“It is now,” he grinned.
“Okay...brandy. And please look for teething gel in the baby department. I’m almost out, and he really needs it. That tooth coming through is making him so grouchy.”
“We could dose him with brandy,” Bo suggested.
“Bo Buchanan! Bite your tongue. That’s a terrible thing to say.”
“Lighten up...I was kidding.” He gave her a quick kiss and pulled on his jacket. “Be back as soon as I can.”
Bo hadn’t been gone long when she heard tires in the driveway. Wonder what he forgot, she said to herself as she went to the door.
Looking out, she saw a very familiar car in her driveway and a very familiar man stepping from that car. Her heart lurched. It was Sam.
He saw Nora in the doorway and approached the cottage slowly.
“Sam,” she said quietly as he stood outside her door.
“Nora. May I come in? We need to talk,” he said simply.
She pushed the door open in silence. Sam looked at Matthew clinging to her hip.
His eyes took on a softer look.
“Look at you, Matthew. You’ve grown!” he said to the baby, touching his hair. “May I hold him please?” he asked taking the baby from her arms. Matthew stared at him with wide eyes. “Daddy has missed you so much,” Sam said to him gently.
“How did you find me?” Nora asked.
“I’m sorry to say, I had to hire a private investigator. That shouldn’t have been necessary, Nora. You should have contacted me sooner.”
“I told you when I left that I needed some time...and you said you were okay with that.”
“I was okay with a few weeks, but you’ve kept me away from my son for over two months,” Sam said his voice rising. “What were you thinking? And taking him across state lines? Any other guy would have pressed kidnapping charges. You, of all people, should have known…”
She interrupted him, “I didn’t intend for it to be this long...with moving, working on this place, starting a new job...life has been busy….”
“And because of that I miss out on two months of my son’s life. That is totally wrong, Nora.”
Matthew was beginning to feel the tension in the voices of the people around him. He started crying and leaning toward Nora.
“It’s okay, son. Don’t cry. You’re alright,” Sam tried to console the child.
“Sam, He doesn’t feel well...he’s cutting teeth...he’s been cranky all day,” she said reaching for the baby.
He turned and went to the living room still trying to console Matthew whose voice had risen to a loud wail. Nora followed.
“Sam, please…” She took Matthew from his arms. He quieted some being back with his Mommy. She soothed him gently.
Sam started in again, “Just what did you think I was going to do, Nora? Let you take Matthew out of my life...just let it go? He’s my son.” He paused before continuing. “I know when you came to me for help, that I didn’t think I would have a part in his life, but I was there for you...I was there when he was born and for those first months of his life...we bonded. Just because things didn’t work out for the two of us, doesn’t mean I don’t want to be a part of my son’s life.”
“Please lower your voice. You’re upsetting him. I didn’t plan to keep him away from you,” Nora began. “I was just getting settled and time got away from me.”
At that moment the door opened and Bo walked in. He took in the scene before him. Then, without a word, he placed the bags on the counter and began searching for the teething gel.
Sam, watching, said, “Well...now I see how it is.”
Bo came to Nora and reached for the now screaming baby. “There’s fever-reducer on the counter,” Nora told him. “Give him a dropperful before the teething gel…”
“Okay. I’ll lay him down for his nap too,” Bo said.
Sam watched this entire scene in silence.
After Bo took Matthew to his room, Sam spoke. “I guess this means…”
Nora finished for him, “Bo and I are back together.”
“When did this happen?” he asked.
“About a month ago…”
“Well...I’m happy for you, Nora. I really am because... I know how much you care for Bo. There’s no room in your heart for another.”
“You’re right about that,” she agreed.
Sam sat down. “I don’t have a problem with you and Bo...but, I do have a problem with being shut out of my son’s life. We need to make some kind of visitation agreements. I hope we can draw up the agreement ourselves without a mediator of any kind. I guess we’ll just see how it goes.”
She nodded.
“Nora...I have to tell you first of all...I’ve accepted a job with a new law firm...it’s in Seattle.”
“Seattle! It’s a long way from here to Seattle, Sam,” Nora said.
“Yes...it is. And...you and I both know that distance makes working out the visiting rights much more complicated.” He hesitated before continuing, “That’s why I want to recommend dividing the time by having Matthew with you six months and with me six months…that way...”
“Absolutely not!” Nora exclaimed. “That’s ludicrous, Sam! It isn’t what’s best for Matthew…”
“Well, we can’t really transport him back and forth across the country every other weekend!” Sam began. “He will get used to this and he will bond with both of us equally…”
“This isn’t about us, Sam, it’s about Matthew! No...absolutely not!”
“Funny...I’ve seen you support and recommend this very arrangement to clients in the past.”
“Well, it’s not what is best for my son. I will fight this arrangement. You can count on that.”
“Do you have another suggestion?” he asked, “because I am not just going to conveniently walk out of my son’s life and allow you and Bo to continue “playing house” or whatever game you’re playing here. While I’m worried sick and hiring a detective to find you, you are here frolicking on the beach and letting another man bond with my son!”
She walked to the window and looked out. “Really, Sam! It isn’t like that at all…I came here on my own...just Matthew and I...to start over...just like I told you.
“Right...and then Bo just found you…?”
“Believe it or not, yes...that’s exactly how it happened. What difference does it make? You said yourself that you don’t care what’s going on between Bo and I...the only thing we need to discuss is Matthew.”
Sam nodded and spoke more calmly, “You’re right. Let’s get back to what we were discussing. If we don’t do a six-month arrangement, do you have another suggestion?”
“Not at the moment,” she said. “I’ll need some time to think it over. This can’t be decided on the spur of the moment…”
“Well...give it some thought and I’ll do the same. I’m sure we can work something out that will be agreeable to both of us,” he said. “However...I would like to spend some time with Matthew this weekend. Could I please take him for a few hours tomorrow? He needs to get comfortable with me again.”
“Why don’t you just visit him here?” Nora asked.
“Because he will want to cling to you. He needs to be alone with me so that he has to bond with me. If he gets upset or is inconsolable, I promise I will bring him back. How about... 2 til 5?”
“He naps from 2 til 4. The best time would be from 11:30 to1:30,” she offered.
“That sounds fine,” agreed Sam. “I’ll see you tomorrow then at 11:30.”
“Fine,” Nora said still looking out the window.
Sam left the cottage and drove away before Nora turned from the window. When she did, she found Bo standing there. He opened his arms to her and she went into them eagerly. She clung to him as he whispered into her hair, “It’s going to be alright, honey. We’ll work everything out, I promise you...”
“Oh Bo...how did I create such a mess?” she murmured into his shirt front.
“You didn’t...you created a beautiful little boy...and now we have to learn to share him. And we will.” He pulled away from her grip and held her face in his hands. “We’ll be facing some changes ahead, but I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he assured her. “Trust me?”
She nodded. “With my life,” she answered.
* * * * * * *
Sam showed up the next morning right on schedule. Nora had Matthew’s bag packed and ready to go. Matthew seemed to be feeling better, so he wasn’t fussy in Sam’s arms.
“He has some teething biscuits in his bag, and a bottle if he needs it,” Nora told Sam. “And make sure you put his hat on if he’s in the wind,” she added.
“Nora, I’ve had two other children...I know these things. He’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“And you promised me…”
“...that I’ll bring him back if he’s crying inconsolably...I will. Stop worrying.”
Nora nodded, then spoke softly to Matthew, “Be good, Buddy. Mommy will see you soon.”
Sam left with Matthew, and Nora closed the door behind them. She watched Sam drive away before turning to Bo who had observed it all from the couch.
“Here,” he said as he moved the newspapers of the couch. “Come sit by me.”
She wandered over silently and perched on the edge of the couch beside him. He rubbed her back. “You want some coffee?” he asked thoughtfully.
“No thanks.”
He thought for a moment. “You want to go for a walk with me? Or...we could go to lunch...we were going to try that little diner we saw the other night…”
“I’m not hungry. I just don’t think I can eat...I’m sorry, Bo…” She got up and went to the kitchen. She grabbed the broom and dustpan and started sweeping up food that had fallen under Matthew’s high chair from breakfast. She was voraciously wiping the already clean countertops when Bo joined her in the kitchen. He came up behind her and took the dishcloth from her hand.
“Come here, “ he said gently turning her around and wrapping her in a warm hug. She clung to him.
“Do you think he’s alright?” she asked tearfully. “I feel like a terrible mom….sending him with someone he doesn’t know. I hope he isn’t scared…”
He pulled back and kissed her tears away. “I think he’ll be fine. Although I don’t usually have good words for Sam, I do know that he’ll be good to Matthew.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “Honey...as hard as this is for us, we’re going to have to make it work. This first time will be the hardest for all of us, but we’ll fall into a routine and…”
She pulled away from him suddenly. “Bo, are you in denial here? He’s moving to Seattle! All the way across the country. Do you know what this means for you? For us? It changes everything.”
“No...not everything,” he said shaking his head. “All it changes is the location. It doesn’t change how we feel about each other…and it doesn’t change the promises we made to each other…”
“But you’ll be thousands of miles from your family…”
“Some of them...but the most important ones will be with me...you and Matthew. Honey, a few weeks ago we stood on that porch out there and promised each other ‘forever’. You’re not backing out on me, are you?”
“No. I’m not backing out...I’m just...giving you a choice…”
“I made my choice when I promised you ‘forever’. And, as I recall, you’re the one who said it wasn’t always going to be easy. Red...what do I have to do to make you understand? I never want to live without you again. Where you and Matthew go, I go. You are my family.”
She looked at him shaking her head. “You’re an incredible man, Bo Buchanan. Do you even know...how much I love you?”
“Hmmm...a bunch?” he offered.
She walked over to him and locked her arms around his neck.
“A whole bunch?,” he said wrapping his arms about her waist. “Lots and Lots,” he continued. “Hey...is that a smile I’m starting to see?”
She smiled at him, shaking her head. “Shut up and kiss me,” she said drawing him closer.
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