Posted by hummingbird on 2/10/2014, 9:14 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Chapter Five
“Hi Big Boy!” Matthew flashed a smile and kicked his little legs in excitement at seeing Mommy. She reached to take him from Nanny Clara.
“How was your first day at work, Mrs. Buchanan?” asked Clara.
“Please...call me ‘Nora’. Work was fine. I went to a few meetings for new staff and unpacked boxes at my campus office. It was a productive day, but my feet are killing me. I am spoiled to wearing sandals and flip flops since I moved here.” She scootched out of her shoes where she was standing. “How was Matthew today? Was he ok for you?”
“He’s a doll, ma’am. We didn’t have any trouble at all. Only one thing...he wouldn’t eat those green beans at all...spit them out every time I poked them in.”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to try peas next time.” she said to Matthew. “Yucky. Mommy hates peas, but maybe you’ll like them, huh?” She nuzzled his neck. “Thank you, Clara. We’ll see you in the morning then?”
“Yes, ma’am. Bye bye, Matthew,” she said with a wave.
“Tell Nanny Clara you’ll see her tomorrow,” Nora said to Matthew.
As Clara pulled out, Kyle’s truck pulled in. He approached the cottage with some bags and his tool belt.
“Wow, you look nice,” he said as she opened the door for him. “Oh, that’s right! It was your first day at work today, wasn’t it? How did it go?”
Nora told him about her meetings and her new office. “The staff members that I’ve met so far seem nice and have been very helpful. Students start on Wednesday. I’ll be teaching courses in Ethics and Criminal Defense. I’m getting excited about this new venture.”
“Well, good. I hope it works out for you.”
“So...what are you planning to work on here?” she asked indicating the bags.
“I was going to fix that shower drain for you...unless this is a bad time,” he said.
“No...not at all. Go right ahead.”
Nora carried Matthew on her hip to her room where she changed clothes. Then she changed Matthew’s clothes. She wanted to make a trip to the BMV to get new plates for her car and then a quick trip to the library.
Kyle was packing up his tools when she went back to the living room.
“Done already?” she asked. “That was quick.”
“Quick and painless,” he replied.
“Good. Now, I need directions. I’m going to get new plates for my car. How do I get to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles?”
“Well, its...hmmm, trying to think of the easiest way to get you there...do you know where the travel agency is?...or the Visitor’s Bureau? It’s right in that area.”
Nora gave him a blank look.
“What about the police station? Do you know where that is?” Again, she just looked at him. “It’s hard to explain... Why don’t I just take you down there? It’s easier to show you than to tell you. Then we could have dinner out...on me... to celebrate your new job.”
“No, Kyle. That isn’t necessary,” Nora began.
“Not necessary to eat? Come on...we both have to eat. If we’re in town, we may as well grab something. Yes?”
“I’m really tired. I just want to get my errands done and relax,” Nora said.
“And if you have dinner out, you’ll be able to do that because you won’t have to come home and cook.” He smiled.
She shook her head. “You have all the answers, don’t you?” she asked grinning at him.
“Yes I do!”
“Ok. Dinner it is then. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Professor.”
* * * * * * *
Nora turned to Kyle as he parked his truck back at the cottage later.
“Thanks for driving me again. I am beginning to feel like I should pay you taxi fees. Maybe you should go into the business.”
“It’s really not a problem. Glad to be of help.”
“And...thank you for dinner.”
“Sure. I enjoyed the company.”
Nora unfastened Matthew from his car seat and began to unbuckle the seat from the truck.
“Here...I can get that seat if you get the baby and his bag. I’ll just put it back in your car for you. Then I’m going to put the plates on your car.”
“I can change the plates. I’ll do it tomorrow. Don’t worry about it.”
“It will only take a minute,” Kyle responded. “It will be one less thing you have to worry about.”
She placed a squirming Matthew on her hip. “Ok, thanks.”
He came to her door about ten minutes later with the old plates.
“Here you go,” he said handing them to Nora.
“You’ve been very helpful to me tonight, Kyle. I just want you to know that I appreciate your friendship.”
“Not a problem. Glad to help.” He turned to go, then hesitated. “Not sure if you’d be interested, but... I’m taking a few friends out on my boat this Saturday. Do you think you’d like to come?”
Nora was caught off guard. She didn’t know how she wanted to answer. “Um,” she began. “I’m not sure, Kyle. I still have painting to do, and... I’m just not sure I want to spend another day away from Matthew after being away from him every day this week.”
“Well, I understand... I just thought it would be nice for you to get acquainted with some people in town. Just let me know by the end of the week if you want to join us. Talk to you soon.”
“Okay, good night... and thanks again.”
* * * * * * *
After tucking Matthew into bed, Nora changed into her pajamas, poured herself a glass of wine, grabbed the bottle, and slipped out to the porch. She sat and pulled her knees up in front of her. Nursing her drink, she looked out at the black sea.
It had been quite a day...another day of beginnings. She was tired of beginnings and longed for familiarity.
She looked at the night sky. So many stars...and that moon hanging there. Beautiful.
Don't think, she warned herself. Don't even go there...
She finished her wine and poured herself another. In spite of herself, her mind wandered to Bo. How she missed him. Not heeding that warning voice inside her, she closed her eyes to see his face.
At first she would see only happy images...Bo’s smile, the way his eyes twinkled, his lips as he inclined his face toward hers for a kiss...
But, inevitably, those images would change and she would see the devastation in his face, the anger, humiliation, and hurt.
I hate myself for that, she whispered to herself. I hate myself for hurting him...
To her new world, she put on an air of confidence and happiness she really didn’t possess. Deep down she carried the weight of her mistake, the hurt she had caused, the pain she was feeling. She was trying to put the past behind her...starting over...for Matthew. All that mattered was Matthew. He was the innocent victim in all this. She was determined to rise above her current state of mind and make a good life for him. He would have the best mommy she could provide. She was determined.
Still...it wasn’t easy. She downed her wine and poured another.
Enough, Nora Buchanan! Stop feeling sorry for yourself, came the voice again.
She pushed herself out of the chair and went back into her cottage leaving her memories behind...or so she hoped. She locked all the doors, turned off all the lights, and dropped into bed.
Sleep...please come quickly, she thought.
But it didn’t; and, while the moonlight streamed through the window and she listened to the pounding of the surf, she thought of Bo...and she cried...softly at first, then harder and harder until her whole body was wracked with sobs.
What will I have to do to get over this man? she asked herself. God help me.
However far away, I will always love you
However long I stay, I will always love you
Whatever words I say, I will always love you
I will always love you...
Lovesong by Adele
Re: FF-Begin Again-Chapter 5
Posted by Mary Ann on 2/10/2014, 9:49 am, in reply to "FF-Begin Again-Chapter 5" VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Yep....Kyle can move along now. LOL
Though I am glad to see that Nora's heart and mind still belong to Bo.
Re: FF-Begin Again-Chapter 5
Posted by KJacks on 2/10/2014, 4:30 pm, in reply to "FF-Begin Again-Chapter 5" vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
I can't help it...I just don't trust Kyle. At all.
She went to bed and I had visions of him watching her bathroom through some video camera he installed while "fixing" the shower.
I am happy that her thoughts are only of Bo and that it is with Bo that her heart belongs.
Looking forward to the next chapter!
Kristen
Re: FF-Begin Again-Chapter 5
Posted by hummingbird on 2/11/2014, 8:29 am, in reply to "FF-Begin Again-Chapter 5" VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
My poor Kyle...you guys are vicious! And what a creepy yet interesting idea, Kristen,about the shower. LOL
LOL