Chapter Thirty-Seven ~ April 9, 1949
Dr. Beckett, looking over his charts, opened the door to the examining room.
"Mrs. Buchanan," he said, looking up to greet her, "and Mr. Buchanan. Nice seeing you both again."
"I hope you don't mind that I came," Bo said, shaking the Doctor's hand. "I can tell it's not standard procedure. I was the only Dad in the waiting room."
"I don't mind at all, Mr. Buchanan. Under the circumstances of your wife's pregnancy, I can certainly understand your concern." He turned his attention toward Nora. "So, how have you been feeling since your last appointment, Mrs. Buchanan? Any changes?" he asked her.
"Yes, some…" Nora replied. "I'm no longer having morning sickness," she said, smiling, "and my clothes are getting a little tighter…"
"Well, that all goes with it, doesn't it?" the Doctor interrupted. "The second trimester is usually better than the first as far as the sickness goes, but you trade it for the weight gain. What about the spotting? Are you still dealing with that?"
"Yes," Nora replied.
"Is it any better or worse?"
"It's no worse," she told him, "but it's daily now...not intermittent like it has been."
"I see," he said writing the information on his chart. "Okay...well...let me do the exam, then we should be able to hear a heartbeat this time."
Bo sat awkwardly in a chair while Dr. Beckett intimately examined his wife and made small talk about the weather and the new service station being built on the south side of town. When he was finished, he said nothing, just jotted notes in Nora's chart.
"Let's see now if we can hear that heartbeat," the doctor said standing and moving to Nora's side. He placed the stethoscope in his ears then ran the chestpiece over Nora's abdomen. He moved it several times listening, but not speaking.
Bo stood by Nora's side waiting. She took his hand in hers. "I've felt the baby moving some...the little flutterings...you know…" she told the doctor.
Dr. Beckett still said nothing. Nora was getting anxious.
Finally Dr. Beckett glanced at Nora and smiled. "Are you sure you're having a baby, Mrs. Buchanan? Sounds like a little train in here."
"You can hear it? The heartbeat?" she asked.
"Sure do," the doctor said. "It's puttering away. How about I let you take a listen?" he said, handing Nora the earpieces.
Nora's eyes lit up as she heard the quick beating of her baby's heart, then they quickly filled with tears of relief. "I hear it," she said quietly and listening intently. "Oh...I think I could listen to this all day…" she said over the lump in her throat.
Dr. Beckett smiled. "How about we let your husband have a turn?"
"This one sounds like it has as much energy as it's sister," Nora told Bo, smiling.
She listened a moment longer, then removed the earpieces to share with Bo.
Bo inserted the earpieces and listened to his child's heartbeat for the first time. He looked at Nora grinning broadly, and she placed a hand along his cheek.
"It's so fast," he said to the Doctor.
"Yes, that's completely normal for this stage of the game," Dr. Beckett replied.
As Bo handed back the stethoscope, Dr. Beckett continued, "You folks should be feeling better about things. Everything seems to be progressing normally."
"It's just such a relief to finally hear the heartbeat," Nora replied as Bo helped her sit up. "I was afraid maybe the movement I was feeling was a figment of my imagination."
"Not at all," the Doctor assured her, "everything seems to be going fine; but, again, if you have any pain or the spotting gets worse, please let me know. Get plenty of rest, eat healthy... and we'll see you next month. Any questions?" he asked, looking between the two of them.
"No," Bo replied, shaking his hand, "just...thanks so much, Doc."
"You're very welcome. See you in a month," he said before leaving the room.
Bo looked at Nora with a broad smile. "You hear that, honey? We're having a baby!" he beamed. "It finally feels real!"
April 16, 1949
Bo entered the darkened kitchen after a five day business trip to New York City.
"Anybody home?" he shouted, tossing his jacket across a chairback and rolling up his sleeves.
"DADDY!" Lilli shouted racing into the room and into his open arms.
"Hey Lillikins! How are you?" he asked picking her up and kissing her neck until she giggled. "Look how pretty you are! And you smell good too…"
"Yup" Lilli interrupted, "Mommy put some of her perfoom on me. We dressed up cuz it's your birthday! Happy Birthday, Daddy!" she finished, beaming.
"Thank you, Honey," Bo answered giving her another kiss as he carried her out of the kitchen. "Where's your Mommy?"
"She's in the dining room. We're eating in there tonight cuz it's your birthday! And Mommy put candles on the table...and she made some food, but it was yucky, so we went to town to get food. But me and mommy made your cake ourselves...and we got you some presents too! We got…"
"Lilli! Don't tell Daddy what his presents are. We want him to be surprised. Hi Sweetie," Nora said to Bo.
"Hey, Red…" Bo put Lilli on her feet and drew Nora into his arms. She greeted him with some very warm kisses.
"Welcome home...I've missed you…" she murmured, kissing him some more. "Seems like you've been gone longer than five days."
"Feels like longer to me too," he replied, burying his head in her neck and pulling her closer. "Mmmm...you feel so good...and smell so good...and look sooo good," he teased wickedly into her ear.
Nora pulled back, laughing quietly. "Happy Birthday," she whispered, kissing him again.
The moment was interrupted by Lilli's incessant tugging on his pant leg. "Come see the cake, Daddy. Me and mommy made it ourselves!"
"I think he'll be able to figure that out by looking at it," Nora said.
But Bo told Lilli the lop-sided cake was "Just beautiful and looks delicious!" Lilli was beside herself with pride.
"We got candles for it too, Daddy! Thirty-four of 'em cuz that's how old you are, Mommy said, and she helped me count 'em."
"You're such a big girl. Thanks for helping Mom while I was gone."
"You're welcome, Daddy," Lilli said, spinning around to show off her dress.
"Are you hungry," Nora asked while lighting some candles on the table.
"Starved," was Bo's quick reply.
"Good. I've been keeping your food warm in a the oven. You and Lilli get comfortable, and I'll be right back," she said with a quick caress.
Watching her saunter toward the kitchen, Bo didn't know which he wanted worse, food or his wife.
"Open mine first!" Lilli said excitedly, shoving the wrapped gift into Bo's hands.
Bo looked at the misshapen package. "Did you wrap it yourself?"
"Uh huh...and I made it too...out of pl…" But she caught herself and put a hand in front of her mouth before she continued. "Oops...I almost telled you my surprise," she giggled.
Bo laughed as he unwrapped his gift. Then his mouth dropped open in feigned surprise. "You made this yourself?" he asked. "I love it!"
"You know what it is, Daddy?"
"Well, of course I do. It's a unicorn. I could tell by this little horn right here. I love the smile on his face. Thank you, honey," he said giving her a hug. "Would it be okay if I put this on my desk at work? Then I can look at it every day and think of you."
"Sure, Daddy. Now open this one!" she said shoving another gift into his hand.
"You got me two presents?" Bo asked.
"No...this one's from our baby…"
"Oh...okay...let's see what the baby got me..."
"Well...I picked it out, Daddy, cuz the baby can't see from Mommy's tummy," Lilli explained, "but it's really from the baby."
Bo unwrapped the box and pulled out a silk tie. "Very nice," he said looking Nora's way. "Our baby has good taste."
"Yes, I kind of gave the kids a choice out of two lovely ties," Nora winked, "and Lilli chose that one."
"Now open Mommy's present!" Lilli said, not wasting any time and grabbing the next one.
Bo took the thin square package from Lilli's hands. "Hmmm...what could this possibly be?" he asked giving Nora a knowing look. Unwrapping it he found an album, "Bing Crosby Sings Songs By George Gershwin" he read from the album cover. "Sounds like we'll be doing some dancing tonight," he said quietly to Nora with raised brows.
"I like that plan," Nora agreed, "but first...we have to get this one to bed," she said tickling Lilli.
"No...I don't wanna go to bed," Lilli whined, moving away from Nora.
"Well, you are going to bed, Little Miss," Nora responded. "It's way past your bedtime."
"Can Daddy tuck me in?" Lilli asked.
"Sure," Bo answered. "Come on...I'll tuck you in. Say goodnight to Mommy."
"'Night, Mommy."
"'Night, Lillikins, thanks for being my helper today."
"You're welcome."
When Bo came downstairs, he found the table cleared and Nora in the kitchen.
"What are you doing?" he asked coming up behind her.
"Just putting the food away and doing up some dishes."
"Well, stop," he said taking the dishtowel from her hands. "You have to be tired from running and shopping and baking today. This will wait until tomorrow...besides," he said quietly, drawing her close, "it's my birthday...and I want to spend it doing more with my wife than dishes."
"Oh?" she murmured wrapping her arms about his neck, "and what did you have in mind exactly?"
"Well...a little dancing first," he said placing his hand around her waist and dancing her toward the living room, "and then...I thought, maybe...you might have another birthday present for me somewhere…" he hinted.
Nora smiled. "Actually, I do have one more present hidden away for you...if you want it," she offered with glowing eyes.
"If I want it?" Bo queried. "Oh, I want it. You better believe, I want it."
To be continued...