Although (although)
we're apart
you're a part of my heart and
tonight you belong to me...

Chapter Five

After the late night movie marathon and a fitful night’s sleep, Nora didn’t awake until after noon. Bo was already gone from the bungalow... Just as well, she thought.

She poured some coffee and went to the deck. Another beautiful day in paradise. Why are my thoughts so jumbled and troubling?

She thought back to the previous evening...getting the coconuts, then sharing popcorn and movies and conversation with Bo. By the end of the evening they were at a point of comfortable familiarity. It was a welcome relief after a couple of days of trying to avoid each other.

She wore a puzzled frown as she sipped her steaming coffee. She wondered where Bo was and fervently hoped he wasn’t avoiding her again…

* * * * * * *

Bo took a stick and knocked down the spiderwebs along the trail. He knew it was back here somewhere and didn’t think it was that far off the path. Finally, he heard the roar of falling water. As he entered a clearing, he saw sunlight sprinkling through the leaves dappling them with shadows and saw the waterfall cascading over the cliff. Beautiful! Just as he remembered it.

He made his way over the bank that led to the small pool fed by the waterfall and found a large rock to sit on. Now this is what I call getting away from it all, Bo thought to himself. He looked around him...nothing but sunlight, water, and the island flora...perfectly beautiful. Nora would love this...he thought before his mind could stop him.

His mind drifted back to the evening before...her body close to his as she took care of him, her hand tenderly smoothing back his hair in that familiar way, her laughter as they enjoyed the movies together...just like old times…

Bo sighed. He stood and removed his clothing...all of it...and made his way down to the water. It was icy cold, but he plunged in anyway. It had the same effect as a cold shower which is what he needed. A cold slap back to reality.

So she’s still got it...so I’m still attracted to her...that doesn’t mean we are meant to be together...sharing a few laughs and movies doesn’t mean we can forget the pain and the hurt of the past...it doesn’t mean Pa is right…

Or does it?

Pa. Bo clenched his jaw in frustration. It’s his fault I’m in this situation...his fault that I am even hashing these things over in my mind yet again! If Pa would only mind his own business…


* * * * * * *


The sun was getting low in the sky when Bo followed the shoreline back to the bungalow. He saw Nora sitting on the sand near the water and approached her.

“Hi Nora,” he said simply as he drew near.

“Hi” she said smiling up at him. “How was your day?”

“Nice. I did a little exploring. You?” he asked as he sat on the sand next to her.

“It was a relaxing day. I took a walk the other direction up the beach and have spent the rest of the day reading and enjoying the sun.”

“And making sandcastles I see.”

“Yes...I guess I’m just feeling a little nostalgic. I used to love building sandcastles when I was a girl. My grandparents had a house outside Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan. Susanna and I used to build sandcastles there.”

Bo looked at the sandcastle progress then at a lump of sand next to her. It had sea grass rooted on the top and sticks hanging out the sides.

“And what is that?” he asked her.

“Oh!” Nora giggled. “That’s not a ‘what’ but a ‘who’,” she said glancing at Bo. “That’s Mr. Sandman, ‘Stan the Sand Man’. He’s my date,” she whispered conspiratorially.

Bo took a better look at the front of the grassy sand clump. It indeed had a face with one winking eye and teeth made of sea shells.

He grinned and shook his head. “You’re quite creative you know.”

“Yes I am!” she nodded smiling. “I just never have the time to create in my profession,” she said rounding off a corner of her castle. “This is very therapeutic.”

“I’m creative too…” Bo began.

“Oh yes! I remember! You were quite creative...” Nora interrupted.

Bo looked at her as she continued working. “Uh…are we still talking about sandcastles here...”

“We-ll,” Nora grimaced at her slip of the tongue, “...I plead the fifth,” she said quietly.

Bo laughed before beginning to pile up sand of his own. They worked alongside each other in comfortable silence for awhile until Nora asked, “Are you building a castle too?”

“No…” Bo said. “I was feeling kind of like a third wheel with you and Stan over there so...I decided to make my own date.”

“Oh?” Nora chuckled. “Let me see…”

“No, no, no…” Bo said getting between her and his sand pile. “She’s not quite finished yet. Give me a few minutes and then I’ll introduce you.” She then saw him pick up a scoop of wet sand in each hand and pack it onto the front of his creation. “There! That’s the final touch...just what she needed.”

He moved aside so she could see his “date”.

Nora took one look and began laughing. “Whoa! So, what’s her name?” she asked, “ ‘Dolly’?”

“NO!” Bo said rolling his eyes. Look at her carefully.”

Nora looked at Bo’s sand creature for any clue to her identity. Puzzled, she shook her head. “She still looks like Dolly to me.”

Bo sighed. “No...don’t you see? It’s ‘Marilyn’. See the wave I made in her hair and the way her dress is blowing up?”

“Ohhhhhh! Well...sure! It’s as clear as can be now!” Nora exclaimed.

Bo gave her a look. “Don’t patronize me, Nora.”

Then as Nora laughed, Bo put an arm around ‘Marilyn’ and whispered, “Don’t let her get to you, Marilyn. She’s just jealous of your charms” at which point one of her ‘charms’ dropped off into a wet pile in front of her quickly followed by the other.

This sent Nora into gales of fresh laughter.

Bo shook his head. “What’s with me and women? I have the worst luck with women…”

She leaned toward him and rubbed his back. “Awwww...I’m sorry…”

He turned to look at her. Their eyes met and they smiled. She bumped her shoulder against his. “Why don’t you help me finish my sand castle?” she asked quietly.

“You sure you want my help? Things might fall off…important things,” he answered looking at her.

“Of course I want your help,” she said resuming her work on her castle. “You’re creative, remember?”

“I didn’t think my kind of ‘creativity’ was what you were looking for,” answered Bo.

Nora gave him a puzzled look. “Are we still discussing sandcastles here?” she asked him.

Bo grinned. “This time, I plead the fifth,” he said.

* * * * * * *

“There! Done!” Nora exclaimed brushing her hands together to rid them of sand. She sat back on her heels beaming. “It’s amazing! We are creative! Look at this masterpiece!” she said admiring their castle.

“Well...I don’t know,” Bo responded. “I still say it needs a moat to protect the princess inside from intruders.”

Nora shook her head and laughed. “That’s what the fire-breathing dragon is for. We can’t have the moat. We have nothing to carry the water.”

“Yeah, I know...still...it just doesn’t seem complete without a moat,” Bo muttered.

As Bo continued sculpting, Nora said softly, “Look at that, Bo.”

He looked up and glanced in the direction her eyes were cast. The sun was sinking over the vast ocean at the edge of the horizon. The sky was a myriad of hues...purples, pinks, and reds. The colors left Nora’s face with a rosy glow. Bo didn’t know which view was more beautiful.

“It is pretty,” he agreed.

“And peaceful…” she murmured. “Just hearing the waves and seeing that view...I could sit here forever…
...if I wasn’t starving,” she added, glancing at him.

Bo chuckled. “So much for a moment of quiet tranquility...ready to go back? We can dig through that fridge and whip up a quick meal. I also want to open one of those coconuts. Do you like fresh coconut?”

They stood and dusted the sand off their hands and clothes.

“I’ve never tried it. Does it taste like it does inside a candy bar?” she asked as they headed back to the bungalow.

“A little, but it isn’t as sweet. Then there’s the milk…”

Nora gave Bo a puzzled look. “You milk a coconut?” she asked making a milking gesture with her thumbs and forefingers.

He gave her a look of disbelief.

She laughed at his expression. “I’m kidding! Don’t be so serious, Buchanan!”

Bo just shook his head, grinning.