Posted by hummingbird on 11/11/2013, 8:40 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
This is a holiday story, so I kind of feel like Walmart...rushing the season...but, it got rather lengthy, so I'm going to begin posting a chapter every other day hoping to finish before Christmas.
It begins where OLTL is currently...meaning Bo and Nora are happily remarried, Matthew is on his own, and Drew is between 3 and 4 years old.
A Dream Come True
CHAPTER ONE
Bo pulled the old key from his pocket and turned it over in his palm. It looked and felt familiar albeit dull from usage. He smiled as he returned it to his pocket, his heart skipping a beat thinking about the reaction he would get from his wife at his latest surprise. Nora loved surprises...and Bo loved to surprise her, although he was never quite sure what reaction he would get. Sometimes she was emotional and quiet, sometimes she ranted at him for nearly scaring her to death.
Nora’s back was to the door as Bo entered her outer office. She was giving instructions to her new assistant, Kelsey. He put a finger to his lips in a conspiratorial secret as he slipped into his wife’s office. “Remember, double the copies and file them by case number as well as by name,” Nora instructed. “Then you will be able to pull the file according to whatever information you’re given.” “Yes, Mrs. Buchanan.” “And when you’re finished with those, make an appointment with Mr. Jonas for Monday morning if possible. Check my calendar for times. And...it’s Friday. Feel free to take an extra half hour for lunch if you like. You’ve had a busy morning.” “Thank you, Mrs. Buchanan.” “You’re very welcome.” She turned and entered her office squelching an exasperated cry as Bo startled her. “Bo Buchanan! You scared the life out of me! What are you doing here?” He smiled and pulled her into his arms.“I came to take my beautiful wife to lunch.” “At 10:30? A little early for lunch, isn’t it?” He shrugged.“I was anxious to see you... so humor me,” he said, grinning. She touched his graying temples and gave him a lingering kiss before pulling out of his arms and returning to her desk. “I would love to humor you, but I can’t, Bo. I have court in….fifteen minutes,” she said glancing at her watch. “In fact, I will be in and out of court until 3:00 today. You chose the wrong day for a lunch date, sweetie. You should have called or sent me a text rather than running over here...” “But you have to eat lunch,” a disappointed Bo replied. “Not today, Bo...I can’t,” she said shuffling paperwork on her desk. “But...I have a surprise...” The word ‘surprise’ caught her attention briefly and she looked up. “A surprise? What is it?” she asked, eyes gleaming. “I can’t... tell you...I have to show you.” he said. Nora cocked her head to one side giving him a sly look. “Hmmm....have I had this surprise before, Mr. Buchanan? It sounds delightfully familiar...” she said, grinning at him. “No...it’s not that. Something better....well..I mean...not better...what I mean is...” he started in frustration. She cut him off with her laughter and rolled her chair away from her desk. Rising she said, “Well, whatever it is, it’s going to have to wait until dinner. I’ll meet you at home and we can make it a dinner surprise, okay? Right now I have to go.” She packed her files into her briefcase and headed toward the door. Bo made his way to open the door for her. “I’ll pick you up here instead,” he said “and... you’re going to love it,” he added teasingly in a sing-song voice. “I can’t wait,” she said kissing him quickly and adding a whispered, “I love you” as she hurried down the hall.
Later...
“What’s for dinner? I’m starved!” Nora exclaimed as she fastened her seatbelt. “The surprise comes first,” said Bo “because we have such a short amount of daylight left.” “So it’s an outdoor surprise? Is that my first hint, Buchanan?” “Nope...no hints” Bo said as he loosened his tie. But there is this.” Taking off his necktie, he instructed Nora to turn around. “Why? What are you doing?” she asked puzzled and looking at the tie. “This is a ‘destination unknown’ so I’m going to blindfold you,” he said. She looked at him incredulously. “And you want to blindfold me with a necktie?! Aren’t we getting a little old for these games? This is just too strange, Bo.” “No, we’ll never be too old to play. Come on, honey. We’re wasting time.” He smiled encouragingly. “Remember...you’re gonna love it,” he said, his eyes twinkling. She gave him a sideways glance and an indulgent smile, a smile like one you would give a small boy who just gave you a wilted dandelion bouquet. How she loved this man. She could deny him nothing. She turned and allowed him to fasten the tie snugly over her eyes. Then she slouched in the seat hoping no one would see her in this ridiculous situation. It seemed like a long drive, but finally the car stopped and Bo shut off the ignition. He sat quietly for a moment. “May I remove this now?” Nora asked starting to fumble with her blindfold. Bo stopped her. “No, no, no. Not yet honey. Not much longer though. I promise. Just sit still and I’ll come around and help you out of the car.” Nora waited as patiently as possible until Bo opened the car door and took her hand to help her out. He then led her along like an aging blind man. At last he stopped and instructed her, “Now, just wait here a minute. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll come right back to get you.” Nora laughed. “Where am I gonna go? I am an inexperienced Stevie Wonder here. It’s not like I’m going to bolt into the unknown.” “Just hold on, honey,” he said. As she waited, she noticed a vaguely familiar fragrance nearby. “Do you smell something, Bo? What is that? It’s smells so familiar...” Bo didn’t answer, but quietly inserted the key in the lock. He pushed the door open slowly. It was like being greeted by an old friend. “Ready, honey?” he asked, taking her arm. “Yes,” she answered cautiously. “But, I’m a little nervous. There had better not be a bunch of people around seeing me like this, Bo.” “No, Red. It’s just the two of us,” he said leading her by the arm. When he stopped, her senses were alert. She sensed familiarity in her surroundings...the smells and sounds. Her heart was beating rapidly. Finally she heard Bo softly say, “Ready, honey?” She nodded as he unfastened the tie and it dropped away from her eyes. Her eyes widened and her hand went to her mouth. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes and her throat closed with emotion. “Ohhh Bo...” she murmured in awe. She looked at her surroundings in the last rays of the afternoon sun....the fireplace, the elevated floor by the paned windows, the wooden beams and floors. She ran her hand along the nearest beam in wonder that she was actually in this precious place again...a place where so many memories were made. She turned to find Bo just as overcome with emotion, the same tears in his eyes, the same lump in his throat. The tears in her eyes spilled over onto her cheeks as she threw herself into his arms. They held each other for a long moment both overcome with the emotion of being in this place again...a place they had called ‘home’ many years ago.