Chapter 10: I Will Always Love You.
Nora called Bo on the phone as Raven sat curled up on the couch watching TV. Bo answered his cell "Buchanan." Nora walked into the kitchen so she could talk in private. "Hey, Bo it's Nora." "Oh, hi Nora are you at my apartment?" Nora looked around, "No, I'm at my place. Raven's here with me." "Well, what is she doing right now?" "She's watching TV in the living room." Bo sounded annoyed, "I told her she couldn't go anywhere else, but home and she couldn't watch TV and you're deliberately going against everything I say?" Nora jumps in real quick, "I am not. One she's watching something educational on the discovery channel, two I didn't think she should be home alone, and three don't you think you're being a little too hard on her." "Where is this coming from Nora? This morning you completely agreed with me. You know she was with Rex last night." "How do you know she was? She told she wasn't why don't you believe her?" "How do you know she wasn't?" "Well, Mr. high-and-mighty-police-chief I did just a little bit of research and you know what." Bo sounded even more annoyed, "What?" "Rex Balsom is out of town for the week." Bo looked guilty, "Oh...well then where was she and why wouldn't she tell me?" "Maybe it was personal and she didn't want to share it with you." "I'm her father what could she possibly not want to tell me?" Nora started to list things off, "She wouldn't talk with her father about boys, clothes, cramps..." Bo cut her off, "Ok you've made you're point, but I have a right to know where my daughter was last night. Did she tell you where she was?" Nora sighed, "Yes, but it's not my place to say." "But she won't tell me anything. All I want is my daughter to open up to me and I can't get anything out of her. What am I suppose to do?" "Trust her to come to you." Nora said simply. "I'm on my way over." He hung up the phone and so did Nora. She walked into the living room. "What he say?" Raven said worried. "He's on his way over." "To yell at me some more?" Nora sighed, "Honey he's not use to teenage girls he's trying to be a father figure and a friend and he's not that good at it. He's just a guy after all, but sweetie don't push him away. He's a good person he just wants to help." Nora gave her a kiss and a hug. "He won't stop loving you no matter what you tell him." Raven hugged her back, "Thanks Nora." A few minutes later there was a knock on the front door. Nora changed Raven's channel on the TV to the discovery channel. Raven looked lost, "What was that for?" "Don't ask, but don't change it." She got up and walked over to the door and opened it to see Bo, "Come on in." Raven sat up on the couch Nora looked between the two. "I'll be upstairs." She went up the steps and let the two have some privacy. Bo sat down next to Raven on the couch. "So, educational TV huh? Interesting isn't it?" He nodded trying to get her to talk to him. Raven sat quietly she blinked and the tears that had filled her eyes started rolling down her cheeks. Bo's heart broke at the tears on her face he turned on the couch facing her wiping her tears away gently. "Sweetie you can tell me anything. Please don't shut me out." Raven flung her arms around Bo sobbing Bo wrapped his arms tight around her he let her cry for a moment then she pulled away. "I'm so sorry Daddy I didn't mean to upset you. It's just I wasn't feeling good after school and I went to the clinic..." Bo's face flashed with concern, "Wait clinic are you okay?" Raven shook her head, "No, I'm not, not really." Bo had a thousand thoughts rushing through his mind, "Is it serious?" Raven shook her head, "No, no it's...I'm pregnant." She shook her head and got off the couch running up the steps crying. Nora walked down the steps letting Raven be alone and she went over to the couch and sat down next to the ever so lost Bo. "Why didn't she tell me last night?" Nora shook her head, "What do you want from her Bo? She's only seventeen she's been through a traumatic experience. She just found out she's pregnant with her rapist's child and she doesn't want to do anything that would make you stop loving her. She's got a lot to deal with and she's at the breaking point. "So, what do I do Nora? Please tell me because I am completely clueless." "Go upstairs and let her know you still love her and none of this is her fault." Bo nodded silently and went upstairs knocking on Nora's bedroom door where Raven was lying on the bed sobbing. "Raven can I come in please?" Raven didn't say anything and Bo opened the door letting himself in he sat down on the bed beside her stroking her hair. "I love you, you know that right and nothing at all can change that. Raven none of this is your fault. Remember that you can always tell me anything no matter what I'm to here to help." Raven gave him a small smile and gave him a hug. Raven and Bo walked downstairs together Raven gave Nora a hug and then headed out to the car. Bo smiled at Nora, "Thank you Nora for everything." Nora smiled, "Well, you know me here to help."