Chapter Sixteen


When Bo entered their apartment, he found Nora scurrying around tidying things and putting things away. Her adrenaline was up and she had to busy herself to use up the nervous energy. She was angry at being left in the dark about what was going on...and she was scared because deep down she already knew what he hadn’t told her.

“Red…” Bo began. “Come sit with me...we need to talk.”

Nora continued drying dishes and putting them in the cupboards.

“Red?...”

She turned to face him. “I already know what you have to say. So...when? When are you leaving?”

“Please, Red...can you just come and sit with me...I’ll tell you everything…”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Why did you keep me in the dark? It was obvious that Rita and Lena knew. How long have you been keeping this from me?

He pulled the dishtowel out of her hand before leading her to the sofa.

He dropped himself onto the sofa, but she remained standing. “Let’s get this straight. I haven’t been keeping you ‘in the dark’. We just found out this week. I was going to tell you tonight, but...we just haven’t had time...I didn’t want to lay it on you when I first got home, then we went to your parents’...then Sal invited us over…” He looked at her. “When was I supposed to tell you?” he asked quietly. “I’m sorry.” He raised his hands in a helpless gesture and leaned back on the sofa.

She could tell by the look on his face that he was sorry. She hated herself for being upset and angry with him. She walked slowly to the sofa and crawled into his lap. Leaning her head on his shoulder she whispered, “I’m sorry too...for reacting this way... and for embarrassing you in front of our friends…forgive me?” she asked playing with his collar.

“If you’ll forgive me, too,” he answered.

She kissed him gently. “I guess we survived our first fight,” she said looking at him.

He returned the look. “I don’t like fighting with you,” he said.

After a few silent moments she asked, “So...what do you need to tell me?”

Bo hesitated. “We leave Monday morning,” he told her. “We’ll be going to southern England until we’re shipped elsewhere. That’s all we’ve been told.”

“Monday...so soon...it’s too soon…” she said running her hand across his chest.

He leaned his head onto hers. “I know. I feel the same way. But...we knew it was coming. They’ve been preparing us for weeks.”

“Are you ready?” she asked softly.

“I’m trained and prepared if that’s what you mean…”

She shook her head slightly. “That’s not what I mean.”

“Then no, I’m not ready. I’m not ready to leave you. I guess I’ll never be ready for that. All I can say is, the sooner I go, the sooner I’ll get back. Then we can get on with our lives.”

She nodded her head almost imperceptibly.

He pulled her closer. “Let’s not spend what little time we have this weekend dreading Monday, okay? You know what I want to do?”

She smiled. “Let me guess,” she whispered knowingly.

“Yeah...that too,” he grinned looking into her eyes. “First, I want to soak in a bubbly tub with you. Then I want to make love and hold you in my arms for the rest of the night. How does that sound to you, Mrs. Buchanan?”

“Absolutely perfect,” she responded with a kiss.

Bo continued, “...and by the way, I haven’t been sharing our intimacies with Sal or anyone else. He was just teasing you.”

“Well, that's good to hear,” she responded, “because if you did, you would never get any again.”

“OoOooo...now, that’s quite a threat. Do you think you could really follow through with that?” he questioned grinning at her.

She looked into his smiling eyes and sighed. “No...I have to confess... I know I wouldn’t be able to hold out forever. In fact,” she said unbuttoning his shirt, “...I’m not sure... I’ll be able to wait through the bubble bath you’re planning tonight.”

“Well then...what are we waiting for, Mrs. Buchanan? his hot breath whispered into her ear. He began kissing her neck as he slowly laid her beneath him on the couch. She tugged his shirt tail out of his pants, then ran her hands inside his shirt caressing his chest. As his mouth found hers, her hands lowered and encircled his waist. She ran them along his lower back pulling him closer and closer to her. She needed him. A soft moan escaped her lips.

Bo needed no further encouragement. They finished undressing quickly and collapsed again into each other’s arms, a tangle of arms and legs, their mouths melting together, their breaths coming fast. Although they weren’t consciously aware of it, both were trying to erase the harsh reality that they would soon be oceans apart...that these moments were fast fleeting from them...that they didn’t know what the future would hold…

They reached their crests and Nora shivered in Bo’s arms. He pulled her atop him on the narrow couch where she nestled between his legs. He held her close and stroked her skin softly as their racing hearts returned to a normal pace.

They were silent, each absorbed in their own thoughts. It wasn’t long before Nora noticed Bo’s breathing had settled...he had already drifted to sleep.

Her cheek was resting on his chest, but she lifted her chin to see his face. He was resting so peacefully. Hard to believe they had known each other for just a few months...hard to remember life before him...nearly impossible to fathom what life would be like in the weeks and months ahead. She loved him so much. Tears crept from her eyes wetting the mat of hair on his chest. He slept on leaving her alone with her thoughts...

God, I love this man. Please protect him and bring him back to me. I don't want to live without him...