Chapter Thirty-Six
Bo let out a contented sigh after some early morning love-making. "It's like a second honeymoon, isn't it?" he asked quietly his head pillowed on his arm beside her.
Nora awkwardly rolled to her side to face him and snuggled closer. "Well...almost," she agreed looking down at her expanding belly.
Bo grinned. "You know...I had some trouble getting to sleep last night."
"Really?" she asked puzzled. "That's unusual for you...especially after sex..."
"I know. I guess I was just too wound up and excited to sleep. You didn't seem to be having any trouble though, so I watched you sleep."
"Well...that had to be fun," she said with mild sarcasm.
Still grinning, he said, "It was. I watched you sleep and listened to you breathe and listened to all the other familiar sounds of the house...just glad to be home, Red. And..." he placed a hand on her belly "...I talked with my baby...thanked him for keeping an eye on you all these months."
"Him?" she asked raising a brow. "Sounds like you're hoping for a boy."
"Mmmm...I don't have a preference really." He wrapped his arm across her waist. "I'd love to have a little girl with your red hair."
"And I'd love to have a little boy with your blue eyes...and that ornery grin," she added raising a brow. "Guess we'll just have to wait and see."
Nora's mood sobered as she looked at Bo's shoulder in the morning light. The scars from the shrapnel and surgery were still healing, leaving splotches and stripes of pink and white. She traced the scarring with her finger. "Does your shoulder still hurt?" she asked quietly.
"No, not really. My lower leg still bothers me some, but that's all. The doctor said it would just take time."
Nora drew closer to him. "You know...when I heard you were injured, I was scared to death. I can hardly believe you're here with me this morning...it's surreal..." Her eyes filled with tears as she placed a hand along his cheek. "I love you so much, Bo."
He held her close as thy shared some tender kisses.
"I love you too, Red...so much that...you know what I'm going to do?" he asked raising her chin with his thumb.
"Um...what?"
"I'm going to make you some breakfast," he said cheerfully. "Do we have eggs, bread, milk in this house?"
"Y-e-s," she responded slowly.
"Then we're having french toast!" he exclaimed enthusiastically as he pulled on his boxers. "Breakfast will be served in about twenty minutes."
It wasn't long before the aroma of coffee and cinnamon made it's way through the tiny apartment. Nora slipped on the blue satin robe and made her way to the kitchen.
There she saw Bo in his t-shirt and pajama pants cooking over the stove. The sight made her smile.
"Hiya Handsome..." she said grinning.
"Hey Beautiful..." he replied flipping the french toast in the skillet. "You hungry?"
"Yes, I am." She wandered over to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist before she began kissing his neck.
"Mmmm...don't distract the cook, honey, unless you like burnt breakfast." He turned and gave her a kiss. "Can you pour us both some coffee?"
"Sure." She stayed by his side for a minute. When he glanced at her, she just smiled. "I love you," she said quietly.
"I love you," he said kissing her again.
She gave him a squeeze before leaving his side to pour the coffee.
Nora sat at the table, and a moment later Bo brought them each a plateful of french toast and bacon.
"It looks and smells delicious. Thank you, sweetie," she said.
"You're welcome...I thought you might be hungry after last night…" He grinned, then he quickly changed the subject. "Do you know what today is, honey?"
When she looked at him blankly he said, "It's Christmas Eve! And...have you looked outside this morning? We have about a foot of new snow."
Nora smiled at his enthusiasm. "Didn't they have snow in Europe?" she asked sipping her coffee.
"Oh yeah, honey, they did; but that was the wimpy English variety. It's nothing like American snow. Ours is whiter...and fluffier...and deeper. All around, it's a better snow," Bo told her nodding his head.
Nora shook her head and laughed at him, "You're just too adorable, you know that?"
"That's what they tell me," Bo sighed.
"And humble too! I love a man who's adorable and knows it," she said teasing him.
"Well then...it's a good thing you got me!" he said raising his eyebrows at her. "How's your breakfast?"
"Delicious. Thank you for making it."
"Sure," he said finishing his coffee. "After breakfast, I have a few errands to run. I was going to take you with me, but the snow isn't cleared off the streets and sidewalks yet. I'm afraid you'll fall, and a man walking with a cane may not be of much help to a fallen pregnant woman…"
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"It's a surprise."
"Bo...please don't go buying gifts. I can't get out to buy you anything and…"
"I'm not buying gifts. As far as I'm concerned, we've received our gifts this year...we're together again," he said raising her hand to kiss it, "and we have our baby on the way."
"That's right," she agreed. They tapped coffee mugs.
"But...I still have things I need to take care of today," he said, "if you can spare me for a few hours."
"A few hours?! I hate to let you out of my sight," she told him, "but I will if you promise to come back."
"Oh...you don't have to worry about that," he assured her with another kiss, "I'll be back."
About 4:30 that afternoon, Nora heard rustling outside the apartment door. She opened it to find Bo crutch in one hand and a tiny Christmas tree on his other arm.
"What in the world..." she muttered.
"Ho Ho Ho. It's Christmas Eve, honey. I know you don't celebrate Christmas, but I hope you don't mind celebrating with me," he said. He leaned the little tree against the wall and made his way back out the door.
"I couldn't carry everything at once. I'll be right back."
When he returned, he had two brown bags. He put them on the table and told Nora she could take things out as he hung up his coat. He then approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It's cold out there...warm me up," he said kissing her neck.
She turned around and pulled him close, kissing him and rubbing his arms and shoulders to warm him.
"Now can I dig through these bags?" she asked excitedly.
"Sure. I bought everything we would need to decorate our tree...ornaments, garland, tinsel. Except lights. There are no lights being manufactured right now because of the war. That's what the man at Ludwig's Store told me."
"Really? Well, that's okay. We'll make it beautiful anyway."
As they were unpacking the bags, they heard a knock at the door.
Bo opened it to find Lena.
"I heard you were back, Bo. Welcome home!" Lena told him giving him a friendly hug.
"Want some coffee, Lena?" Nora asked.
"No...but I would take a beer…"
"We don't have any beer. Brandy?"
"Yes, please," answered Lena. "Looks like you're doing a tree! That's fun." She looked through the ornaments, tinsel, and garland on the table. "No lights?"
"No, Ludwig's didn't have any lights..." Bo started to explain.
"Oh? Well, hold on...I'll be right back," Lena said as she bolted out their door. A few minutes later she was back.
"I have one strand of lights," Lena said. "I bought them a couple of years ago when I was seeing a man who had the Christmas spirit. You can have them. Merry Christmas."
"Lena, are you sure?" asked Nora.
"Absolutely. I have no need for them. Tomorrow is just another day to me."
Lena swished her brandy around in her glass then quietly asked, "Bo...do you know anything of Mick's whereabouts?"
Bo shook his head no. "I wish I did, Lena. I guess 'no news is good news' as they say."
"I guess," she agreed.
They talked for awhile just passing time when there was another knock at the door.
Bo opened it to find Rita her hands full of Salvadore carryout.
"Merry Christmas and welcome home, Bo." Rita said smiling. She walked past him to put the food on the stove. "I saw you leave earlier and was surprised to see you home. Why didn't you stop in to see me?"
"I just haven't gotten to it, Rita. I'm sorry."
She gave him a welcome home hug also. "So good to see you," she said. "I brought your favorite meal tonight to welcome you back."
"Thank you, Rita. I'm looking forward to that."
"Rita, would you like some coffee or a drink?" asked Nora.
"Or a cookie?" Bo asked. "Anyone want a Christmas cookie? I bought some at the bakery," he said digging through the other bag. "It's not Christmas without cookies."
They made small talk for a short while over cookies and drinks before Rita and Lena decided to go home. Once again, they both expressed their happiness at Bo's safe return and wished Bo and Nora a Merry Christmas.
When Bo closed the door behind them, he pulled Nora back into his arms.
"Finally, it's just the two of us again...well, the three of us," he said patting her belly. "Time for me to teach you the art of decorating a Christmas tree," he said giving her a quick kiss. "Now, the first thing we do is...find some music on the radio while you fix me a bourbon. How's that for a start?"
"Is that tradition?" she asked.
"It is now," he answered making his way to the radio.
She busied herself with making his bourbon while Bo successfully found a station playing only music; a mix of popular songs with a Christmas song thrown in now and then...no newscasts for Christmas Eve.
When she returned with their drinks, Bo threw back a swig, then stood the little tree on a table by the wall.
"First, we put the star on the top," Bo said. "Here...you can do the honors."
Nora placed the star on the tree's highest tip.
"Next come the lights," Bo continued, wrapping them around the tree and tucking them amidst the branches. "If you tuck them deep inside, it makes the tree seem to glow."
Then they draped the garland on the branches. As she looked at the lights reflecting in the garland, she smiled. "It's getting pretty already!"
Bo had purchased two boxes of ornaments...one set of golden bells with painted stripes, another set shaped like teardrops with glittery white snow on top. They hung the ornaments and finished with tinsel. Then they stood back to view their work.
"What do you think, honey? It's our very first Christmas tree."
"My very first ever," Nora responded. "I think it's beautiful," she said wrapping an arm about his waist.
"Now we can sit back and enjoy it. I'll refill our drinks. What were you having?" asked Bo.
"Grape juice."
"Juice it is, then."
They snuggled quietly for awhile on the sofa, just nursing their drinks, sharing some kisses, and enjoying the simple ambiance...the glow from the tiny Christmas tree and the music playing in the background. When they heard the voice of Ella Fitzgerald begin Blue Moon, Bo set his glass down.
"Dance with me," he said softly pulling her to her feet.
She went into his arms and he drew her close. They danced, talking quietly as they looked into each others' eyes. Finally, their bodies melded together as they were caught up in the music...
Blue moon...
you saw me standing alone...
without a dream in my heart...
without a love of my own...
Blue moon...
you knew just what I was there for...
you heard me sayin' a pray'r for...
someone I really could care for...
Bo held Nora as close as he could with Baby Buchanan between them. They both laughed at the sweet interference her pregnant belly made.
Still…
They clung to each other...no proper dancing etiquette...just the need to be close to each other...as close as possible...breathing in the scent of each other...feeling each others' heartbeats…
Their mouths met in tender kisses...sweet, moist kisses...full of desire and longing, yet still tender, not passionate…
Bo whispered, nodding, "I do have a Christmas gift for you."
"You do?" she asked softly.
"Mm hmm" he whispered.
She smiled. "Maybe...it's the same one I have for you," she whispered back fingering his collar.
Bo paused a moment. "Is yours...hidden in the bedroom?" he asked seductively.
"Why...yes it is, Mr. Buchanan…" she said leaning her head to the side and biting her lip. Her eyes sparkled as she pulled him closer.
"Hmmm...do you think we have the same gift for each other?" He grinned in that adorable way she loved and they giggled together.
"I hope so, Buchanan, because...I really like what I have for you…" she said with wide eyes.
Bo threw back his head and laughed, "Oh honey...how did I ever live without you?" He shook his head. "I love you so much," he murmured pulling her close.
"And I love you," she responded with another kiss. "Now...let's go open our presents…" she said scrunching up her nose and tugging him by the hand.
Bo followed most willingly as the song continued...
And then there suddenly appeared before me
the only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me"
and when I looked the moon had turned to gold...
Blue moon...
now I'm no longer alone...
without a dream in my heart...
without a love of my own...
To be continued...
The song Blue Moon was written in 1934 and recorded by many artists over the years including Ella Fitzgerald.