Chapter Forty-Three


In the morning, Nora awoke to find Maggie in her room.

“I came by to check on you and Little Miss,” Maggie said. “How was your night?”

“We didn’t get a lot of sleep,” Nora confessed. I guess the adrenalin was still up...and every time she made a sound, we checked on her. That’s normal for new parents, right?” Nora questioned.

“Absolutely,” said Maggie handing Nora the crying baby. “Her diaper is changed, but she’s hungry again, Mama.”

“Thanks, Maggie. Where’s Bo?” Nora asked.

“He ran to town, but he said he wouldn’t be long. He’s not planning to work today...wanted me to tell you he’d be right back. Now, I’m going to give you time to feed the baby, then I’ll be back to check on your progress. Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’ve been feeling fine.”

“Glad to hear it, honey. I’ll be back shortly with your breakfast.”

Not long after Maggie left, Bo came in bearing a dozen red roses with one pink one tucked amongst them.

“These are from Lilli and I...the red ones are from me, and the pink one is from Lilli,” Bo informed her.

“They’re beautiful! Thank you, Sweetie.”

“Thank you...for my beautiful daughter,” he said leaning over to give her a kiss.

“I brought Lilli something too,” Bo said. He went to the chair by the door where he had deposited two boxes on his way in. He picked up the smaller box and brought it to the bed.

Nora had the baby across her shoulder trying to elicit a burp from her.

Bo spoke to his tiny daughter, “Daddy brought you a present, Lilli. Something to snuggle with when you get bigger.”

Bo pulled a fuzzy stuffed lamb with floppy legs from the box. “I couldn’t resist it,” he told Nora.

“It’s adorable,” Nora agreed. “So...what’s in the other box?” she asked indicating the one still on the chair.

“Oh...that’s a little something I picked up for you, honey.”

“How little?” Nora asked. “Bo Buchanan, it had better not be another corset…” she said looking at him.

“It’s not...honestly, honey, would I give you a gift like that this soon after…? Have a little faith in me.”

He shook his head as she watched him retrieve the box.

“Here...I’ll trade you,” Bo said returning to the bed. “I’ll take the baby, and you can have the box.”

As Bo held Lilli to his chest, Nora lifted the lid on the box. She looked inside and laughed.

“Bo Buchanan...have a little faith in you, huh?” She shook her head giggling.

“Well?... Aren’t you going to try it on?” Bo asked smiling.

“But of course!” Nora exclaimed. She got out of the bed and went to the mirror. She pulled the contents from the box and put it on. Then she turned to face Bo.

“How do I look?” she asked turning around.

“Beautiful!” he said, “And you’ll be even more beautiful wearing it without the nightgown,” he said grinning.

Nora turned to look at her reflection again. Tilting the cowboy hat to one side, she caught Bo’s eye in the mirror. “We still have a date, Pardner...in about six weeks,” she said raising her eyebrows at him.

* * * * * * *

Late in the afternoon, Asa Buchanan made his way to the west wing. He was on a mission...a mission to meet his new grandchild.

Bo was having a drink in the west wing parlor when Asa strutted in.

“Where’s my new grandchild?” he asked heartily upon seeing Bo.

“Well, hello to you too, Pa,” Bo said greeting him.

Asa looked around. “Well...where’s that new little filly you were telling me about?”

“Maggie is teaching Nora how to bathe her. They’ll be out soon. Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”

“Sure. Never been known to turn down a drink. You know what I like.”

Bo handed Asa his drink and the two men sat down to wait.

“How was Philadelphia?” Bo asked inquiring about his father’s most recent business trip. Asa filled Bo in on the purposes of his trip and the plans he had for Buchanan Enterprises.

“So, I don’t think I’ll establish an office for BE in Philadelphia,” Asa was saying, “but in a smaller city west of Harrisburg called Llanview. It seems to be a growing city, just the place for new enterprise...Well, there she is!” Asa shouted as Nora and Maggie returned with the baby.

Asa put down his drink and got to his feet quickly.

“Hello, Nora,” Asa greeted her. He remembered how their first meeting had gone, and he was hoping she wouldn’t hold it against him.

“Mr. Buchanan. How was your trip?”

“It was fine, but not nearly as exciting as what has been happening around here. Let me see this baby.” Asa made his way to Nora’s side to get his first glimpse of Lilli.

“Oh now! Look at her! She’s a fine little filly! May I hold her?” he asked glancing at Nora.

“Of course,” Nora said placing Lilli into Asa’s arms. The infant nearly disappeared as she was held by a man the size of her Grandpa.

Asa held her out at arms length and looked her over. He was grinning ear to ear.

“Look at that,” he murmured.

The proud Daddy stood right by his father’s side beaming.

“She’s pretty, isn’t she Pa?”

“Bo...you’re not supposed to ask people...you wait for them to say it,” Nora reprimanded quietly.

“Why?” asked Bo. “Why the pretense? Everybody that looks at her will see it!”

Nora shook her head and laughed. “You’re prejudiced.”

“Not at all, honey. She is the prettiest baby ever...isn’t she Pa?”

“She sure is!” Asa agreed, “And she’s a Buchanan alright. Look how she has those little fists doubled up. Nobody’s gonna mess with this little filly...no sir!”

“And look at that stubborn set of her jawline...that’s a Buchanan trait for sure,” Nora said looking at Bo and his father.

“Stubborn, beautiful, determined...those are all excellent traits,” Asa acknowledged. “With those traits, this little filly can do anything her heart desires...maybe...even become the first lady lawyer in the great state of Texas,” he said looking at Nora.

Nora looked into Asa’s eyes and smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Buchanan,” she said knowing that Asa was trying, in his own way, to apologize for words previously spoken.

“You’re not going to hold those things I said against this old cowboy, are you?” he asked Nora quietly.

She shook her head, “No.”

“And another thing,” Asa continued, “friends and family call me Asa…”

Nora tilted her head to the side, “Asa,” she acknowledged.

Without too many words, Nora and her father-in-law were starting on new ground...and they both knew it.

Asa looked back at Lilli. She had opened her eyes and was staring at him as new babies do.

“Look at that,” Asa said. “She wanted to meet her Grandpa.”

Then to the baby, he said, “Hello Little Lady, I’m your Grandpa. Welcome to the world, Honey.”

“What’s her name?” Asa finally asked them.

Bo said, “Her name is ‘Lillian Olympia Margaret Buchanan’… ‘Lilli’ for short.”

Asa was moved by the fact that they honored Olympia in the name.

“It’s a big name for such a little lady, isn’t it Pa?” Bo asked.

Asa nodded his head. “It sure is, but she’ll grow into it. She’s a Buchanan.”



Epilogue
September, 1998


Nora’s eyes fluttered and opened slowly. She rolled her head to the side. Someone was standing by a window. As her vision cleared, Nora whispered, “Bo?…”

Bo heard a slight murmur and turned. Nora’s eyes were open.

“Nora? Honey?”

“My baby…” Nora whispered.

Bo hurried to her bedside.

“Did you say something, honey? Oh Red! It’s so good to see you awake! I’m going to get the doctor, okay? He brushed her hair aside and kissed her forehead. I’ll be right back.”

He darted out the door.

Nora looked at her surroundings...she was in a hospital...slowly reality was coming back to her. Tears formed in her eyes as she realized that her sweet Lilli was only a dream...just the best part of a very vivid dream...

She ran her hand across her abdomen...my baby…

Larry Woleck burst through the door with Bo close on his heels. Larry turned and pushed Bo back out the door.

“Bo...you’ll have to stay out until I’ve had the chance to examine Nora. I’ll let you in when I’m finished. Please...let me do my job.”

Bo followed Larry’s instructions, none too happily, and anxiously went to the waiting room.

“Larry…” Nora began with the tears in her eyes.

“So, you know who I am?” Larry said shining a light into Nora’s eyes. “That’s a good sign. Answer some questions for me...what’s your name?” he asked her.

“Nora Buchanan...Larry…”

He could tell she was in a panic. Her eyes were wide and brimming with tears.

Nora, do you remember what happened?” Larry asked next.

“Yes...I was driving...and a car went left of center...I was forced off the road...but Larry…”

“Are you feeling any major pain anywhere, Nora?”

“I’m stiff and sore,” she murmured, “but…”

“That’s to be expected after rolling a car. Now, Nora, we have done a lot of testing and can’t find any internal injuries, so that is a good sign. You are going to be sore for a good while though...you have quite a lot of bruising and…”

Finally Nora found the strength of voice to be heard. She grabbed Dr. Woleck’s arm. “Larry...what about my baby?”

Larry’s eyes softened. “When Dr. Cochran heard about your accident, she told us about the baby. She ran tests too…”

“And?...” Nora interrupted.

“And your baby is just fine. She did a sonogram and found a strong heartbeat,” Larry said smiling reassuringly.

“Oh, thank God...thank you, God,” Nora said through her tears. “Does Bo know?” asked Nora.

“No...we didn’t mention the pregnancy to Bo. We thought you would want to do that yourself.” Larry smiled. “So...are you ready to see Bo?”

“Oh yes!” was Nora’s quick response.

“He’s anxious to see you too. I’ll send him in. And, by the way...congratulations!”

Nora smiled as she wiped away her tears. “Thank you, Larry.”

* * * * * * *

Moments later, the door opened and Bo appeared. Nora’s face lit up when she saw him.

“Hi beautiful,” he greeted her.

“Hiya handsome,” was her response. “Come see me.”

He made his way quickly to her side. He gave her a sweet kiss and held her tight.

“How are you feeling, Red?” he asked seating himself on a chair beside her.

“Better now that you’re here.” She smiled and put a hand to his cheek.

“You gave me such a scare, honey. Thank God you’re alright. I just don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you…”

“Well, we’re not going to think about that,” she said. “We’re only going to think about good things, okay?”

“Sounds good to me, honey” he said kissing her hand.

“How long was I unconscious?” she asked him.

“About twenty-eight hours,” Bo replied. “It was strange though...several times we saw you smile, and sometimes your expression was very sad...we thought you were going to wake up, but…”

Nora shook her head softly...remembering.

“I was having a dream...oh, Bo,” she said shaking her head slowly, “you wouldn’t believe the dream I had. It was so real!”

Bo brushed a stray tendril of hair from her face.“What was it about, honey?” Bo asked holding her hands in his.

She smiled. “I dreamed that we met in the 1940’s and that you were a soldier...a very handsome soldier,” she added. “We got married, and honeymooned, and lived in a little apartment above an Italian restaurant...and our friends lived in the neighboring apartments above the restaurant…”

Her eyes took on a faraway look as she remembered.

“Then you went to war, and when you finally returned, we moved to Texas...and then we had a baby...a beautiful baby girl...she was so pretty, Bo...We named her Lilli...and you delivered her! It was all so real…”

Bo smiled. “Sounds like quite a dream, honey. It’s a good thing dreams don’t come true…”

“Well, some dreams do,” Nora said smiling and playing with his hand.

Bo shook his head and smiled as if he wasn’t following her train of thought.

“Bo...one part of my dream is coming true.” She squeezed his hands. “We’re having a baby, Sweetheart. I was on my way home to tell you when the accident occurred…”

“We’re having a baby?!” Bo asked taken aback.

She beamed at him as she shook her head ‘yes’.

“You’re sure? And everything’s alright? Are they sure?”

She put a hand on his cheek. “Everything is fine, honey. Larry said Dr. Cochran did a sonogram and the baby’s heartbeat was strong...so...we’re having a baby!” she said ecstatically.

“Oh, Red…” Bo pulled her into his arms smothering her with kisses. “Oh, honey. I love you so much,” he whispered. “So much.”

She held him tight while whispering back, “I love you too, Bo Buchanan.”

* * * * * * *

Eight months later, they welcomed
a baby boy into their world...
Matthew Hanen Buchanan

And of course they lived
happily ever after...



Blue skies smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies do I see
Bluebirds singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds all day long

Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days, all of them gone
Nothing but blue skies from now on
Blue skies smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies do I see...