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December 31, 1999
Schmidt transported Bo and Nora from the airport back to the ranch house. A warm glow was emitted from the foyer as Bo and Nora, carrying Matthew, entered.
“Good Evening, Mr. Bo,” Helen said offering to take his overcoat “and welcome back, Miss Nora. It’s so good to see you.”
“Thank you, Helen. It’s good to see you too.”
Thomas rounded the corner then and grabbed Bo’s hand in a firm handshake, “Welcome home, Mr. Bo! Sure is great to have you back! Miss Nora...Welcome,” he greeted her. “And who’s this little guy?” he asked referring to Matthew.
Bo smiled. “This little guy is the latest Buchanan,Thomas. He’s my son, Matthew.”
Thomas laughed. “I knew that. We’ve heard all about Baby Matthew around here. That’s all Mama has been talking about since she heard you were coming...Baby Matthew...Baby Matthew…” Thomas shook his head laughing. “She sure is excited about your visit…”
With all of the commotion and greetings taking place in the foyer, no one heard the slow, steady steps of Miss Maggie as she emerged from the parlor.
“What does a person have to do to get a hug around here?” she asked trying to be heard above the noise.
Bo turned to see her standing there. He smiled even though a lump of emotion was welling in his throat.
“Maggie…”
He went to her and wrapped his arms firmly about her frail form. She patted him on the back as she returned his warm hug. When he finally pulled back, she put her wrinkled hand on his cheek.
“Let me look at you, Beaufort,” she said studying his face. He smiled at her. “Not a trace of worry there. I’m glad to see that.” She patted his cheek. She released him from his hug and approached Nora. “And I’m sure this beautiful lady is responsible for that smile on your face.”
“That she is,” said Bo looking at Nora with a glow in his eyes.
Maggie took Nora’s free hand into her gnarled one. “Welcome home, honey,” she said.
“Thank you, Maggie,” Nora said quietly.
“And this must be Baby Matthew, I’ve been waiting to meet you, Matthew,” she said.
Bo took Matthew from Nora’s arms. “Turn around here, son, and say ‘Hello’ to Miss Maggie.”
Matthew, who had been busy peering over their shoulders at his new environment, finally turned around to face Maggie.
Her mouth dropped open. “Lord have mercy!" she exclaimed looking at the child.
Everyone got quiet.
“I just can’t believe it!” Maggie continued with a startled look.
“What’s the matter, Mama,” Thomas asked.
“You all just come with me. Come on,” she said with a determined voice.
They followed Maggie’s slow pace back to the parlor.
“Is something wrong?” Bo questioned.
“Just come on,” she said even more determined. “All I can say is, I hope you all didn’t pay too much for those tests you had done...you should have come to Miss Maggie first. Mm...mm...mm…,” she said shaking her head.
Maggie sat down in her chair and heaved a sigh. “Thomas, you’re going to have to get it for me.”
“What do you want, Mama?” Thomas asked.
“That album on the shelf up there...the brown photo album. I think that’s the one.”
Thomas brought it to her.
“Bo, Miss Nora…come sit by me. I want to show you something.”
Bo put Matthew down to explore his new surroundings while he and Nora sat down next to Maggie . Maggie opened the pages of the old album and found what she was looking for, then she turned the page around for them to see. There, on the yellowed pages before them was a black and white photo of a baby boy looking exactly like their son.
“Oh my…” Nora began.
Bo interrupted, “Is that me?”
“It sure is,” said Maggie, “and it looks like you were about the same age as Matthew.”
Bo swallowed. “I can’t believe it...he looks exactly like me…”
“He does,” agreed Maggie, “except for those brown eyes…”
“He got those from his Mommy,” Bo said slipping Nora a quick kiss.
Bo flipped through the pages of the album. They laughed at the photos and pointed out expressions from Bo’s pictures that they had seen on Matthew’s face at times. Nora watched Bo as he looked at the album. He was grinning from ear to ear. “Amazing,” he said.
“You just keep that,” Maggie said referring to the photo album. “It belongs to you anyway. I think I’ll let you take Clint’s to him also.”
“Thank you, Maggie.” He kissed her cheek.
* * * * * * *
It was New Year’s Eve, so Helen made a big meal and plenty of snacks for later. She knew they would all be up late ringing in the new year.
It was a wonderful evening spent talking, laughing, and playing games, Matthew was entertainment for all of Tom and Helen’s children who were still wanting another baby brother or sister. Thomas grinned as he put his hand on Helen’s knee. She slapped the hand away with a firm “no” expression.
Bo explored Asa’s old vinyl record collection and played some of Maggie’s favorites on the old stereo.
“Ahh...this is the one, isn’t it?” Bo asked as he played Nat King Cole’s Embraceable You. Bo nodded his head knowingly as he looked at Maggie out of the corner of his eye and smiled. He held his hand out to her. “Shall we?”
Maggie laughed. “Land Sakes, no! It’s been years since I’ve cut a rug!”
“Oh. So you’re saying you can't dance with me. Is that what you’re saying? I’m surprised at you Maggie…”
“I didn’t say I can’t ! Why! I’ll have you know I was your first dance teacher! If it weren’t for me you still couldn’t dance…”
“Well, come on then,” he said still holding a hand out to her. “Show me. Dance with me, Maggie. Come on. A pretty girl like you shouldn’t be a wallflower… come on.”
He took her hand and pulled her from the sofa. He twirled her gently and sang to the music.
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you...
She giggled like a schoolgirl at his teasing; but, as she settled into the dance, it was obvious that she used to be quite elegant on her feet.
When the next song began, Maggie said, “Alright...I’m not really tired, but I don’t want your wife getting jealous….”
Bo laughed as he helped her get seated comfortably on the sofa. “So you think I should ask my lovely bride to dance?”
“Yes, I do!” she said emphatically.
“You heard the lady, come on Red.”
Maggie shuddered, “Beaufort Oglethorpe! Not like that! Heavens to Betsy! I taught you better than that!”
Bo laughed at her dismay and winked at Nora. “Yes, you did and I’m sorry, Maggie. I’ll do better. I promise.” He approached Nora and extended his hand. “Would you care to dance, my dear?” he asked politely.
Nora smiled at his crazy antics. “I’d love to,” she said. He pulled her to her feet and comfortably into his arms. They danced through the next song absorbed in one another nearly forgetting that the room was full of people.
Maggie watched their interaction with each other and smiled contentedly. Her Bo was going to be just fine…
* * * * * * *
At the stroke of midnight, pandemonium broke out. The children were jumping and screaming and making all kinds of racket with noisemakers that Bo brought for the party.
Thomas gave Helen a quick New Year’s kiss. Bo slipped up behind Nora, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck before she turned and kissed him in return.
Maggie watched it all from the sofa. There she stroked Matthew’s hair as he slept through it all with his head on her lap.
Not long after midnight, Nora approached the couch where Maggie was sitting. “Time to put this little guy to bed,” she said.
“He sure is sweet, Miss Nora,” Maggie whispered. She placed her hand on Nora’s arm. “I just want to thank you.”
“For what?” Nora asked puzzled.
“For making my Bo happy.”
“Oh Maggie. I love Bo so much. I want you to know...I always have.”
“I know that, honey. You don’t have to explain anything to me. I know that you love Bo. Never doubted it for a minute. I could see it in your eyes the first time he brought you here...I still see it.”
Nora smiled. “I need to thank you too, Maggie. Whatever talk you had with Bo seemed to bring him back to me...and for that I will be eternally grateful.”
* * * * * * *
After everyone else had gone to bed, Bo sat down next to Maggie. She patted his knee.
“You have a very sweet family, Bo. I’m so glad for you. With Nora beside you, I don’t have to worry about your happiness.”
Bo looked at her. “I have you to thank,” he said. “When you told me the story of your Dad and his choices...it made me realize that I needed to drop my pride if I was going to be happy. And you were right about Matthew. I grew to love that little boy before I even knew he was mine. And Nora...she’s the love of my life. I’m so thankful God gave me a second chance with her. Thank you for sharing your story with me, Maggie.”
“I’m glad it helped,” she said. “You know I’d do anything for you. I love you like one of my own…” she said.
“To the moon and back?” Bo asked.
“Always...to the moon and back...and don’t you forget it.” she whispered.
* * * * * * *
Nora wrapped her arms around Bo’s waist and leaned on his shoulder as he peered into the crib at his sleeping son.
“Look what we made, honey. He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” Bo asked softly.
She smiled. “Yes he is. Just like you,” she whispered.
He turned and pulled her into his arms, whispering between kisses, “Happy New Year, Red. Happy New Century...Happy Ten-day-aversary…”
She laughed quietly. “You’re just celebrating everything tonight, aren’t you?”
“I am,” he said, pushing back a stray lock of her hair, “because I have everything to celebrate. I have you...and I have my son...and I am feeling so grateful...so happy, Red.”
“Me too,” she whispered, smiling, as he backed her toward the bed.
“So…” he continued in an seductive voice, “got any plans tonight, pretty lady?”
“Mmmm...just what did you have in mind, good sir?” she questioned unbuttoning his shirt.
He continued his slow purposeful trek toward the bed. “I thought maybe we could...'ring in the New Year’ together,” he said raising his brows as he lowered her to the sheets.
“Now that,” she whispered before a slow intimate kiss, “sounds like a splendiferous idea.”
The End
Everybody's heart aches
Every time it opens
You don't know if you'll win or lose
You have to just let go...
No I wasn't looking
It's funny how I found you
Just when I thought I'd live my life alone...
Maybe It's Love by Trisha Yearwood
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