Chapter 30

When Audra showed up the following morning, Bo ordered her a cappuccino at her request and black coffee for himself.

'So what's on your mind?' he asked.

'Ja,' Audra said briskly, putting down her cup, grey eyes serious. 'You and Carlee; you have really reconciled now?'

He nodded, smiling broadly. They'd spent a blissful night lying in each other's arms and started the morning by cooking breakfast for her and eating it together in bed; lost in each other's eyes.

'Well, until yesterday I thought that Carlee was still hesitant towards you... hence what I have planned for you both. But I see that it is still very necessary.'

'What is it?'

'I will tell you in a moment. You and my sister-in-law are together again, that is good, very good. But... with what is still going on and I mean the feud you are having with some members of your family and the Hortons... it is going to come between you and Carlee. She will maybe start blaming herself for what is happening and your anger towards them might spoil everything and before you know... you are back to square one; where she will feel like she's coming between you and your family and end it.'

'Carly has nothing to with the situation, it's not her fault!' Bo protested.

'Of course, of course... I know that, you know that.' Audra agreed. 'But she might still feel guilty all the same, she is very soft hearted and sensitive as you know. Now from what I understand, when you both came together when she moved back here, it was during a turbulent time for you. Your marriage was on the rocks and you were surrounded by a lot of disapproval from everybody, who blamed Carlee for the ruin of your marriage.'

'That's right.'

'Now you have showed everybody where your heart lies but at that time, you two never spent real time alone; to really connect after all those years apart from each other. And like I said before; the present situation might interfere with this reunion- more bringing up of past mistakes and behaviour and God forbid that Carlee witnesses you or Mela or Nico or my husband quarrelling with your sister and mother or your in-laws and holds herself responsible when you both have just reconciled. So... the solution to the problem is,you and Carlee go away for a time.'

Bo leaned forward, very interested.

'My initial reason for this was to allow you both reconnect emotionally; calm and peaceful surroundings would clear her mind and you both will use the opportunity to talk things out properly and Carlee will gradually follow her heart without any one's influence. You need this time alone to privately catch up even more but at the same time put some distance from everybody here. They too will use this time think over what has happened, to realise even more that they wronged you as well as Carlee and by the time you come back... no putting off apologizing to Carlee and by then, I'm willing to gamble that your anger will have died down. Their anxiety to make it up to you both will heighten if they don't know if you will come back to town or not… so you will not tell anybody how long you will be gone, or where you're going. No phone calls, no postcards.'

Bo shook his head, again amazed and staggered at the wisdom of Carly's sister-in-law; he hadn't thought about taking Carly on a trip… which was a very good idea. Luckily he had four weeks of accumulated leave he could use any time; being with Carly and Carly alone was going to be so heavenly. Maybe if he and Carly had taken a vacation long before this time to emotionally reconnect, the terrible events of the past would never have occurred at all.

'I can't think of anything better.' He said at last. 'It's a great idea, absolutely incredible idea! I'll stop by the travel agency on the way home and pick a place right away.'

Audra waved a hand. 'No need.' Opening her oversize purse she brought out a set of keys and a piece of paper, handing them over to Bo. At his inquiring look, she explained, 'François and I have a house at Governor's Harbour in Eleuthera and we are lending it to you and Carlee for the duration of your vacation. It's on a private beach so nobody to disturb you. I called the caretaker and told her you were coming so she has cleaned and fully stocked the place. There is a boat too so you can go sailing or fishing; everything you need for your special time alone.' She smiled at Bo's stunned look. 'François took me there for our honeymoon so I can promise you both will have a wonderful time.'

'I don't know what to say, this is so incredibly generous.' Bo shook his head, touched. Frankie was a very lucky man to have such a guardian angel; very wise and compassionate and a far cry from his significant ex after Jennifer, Eve, who he would never have chosen for him in a million years. 'What does Frankie say about all this?'

'He had his doubts but I convinced him it was for a good cause, which is why he has booked your tickets in advance. So Bo... I trust you will use this time properly, ja?'

'Oh we will, we definitely will! I don't know how to thank you Audra. Really, this is all so great.'

'Don't bother trying.' She smiled, rising to her feet. 'We hug it out instead.'

Grinning, Bo got up and hugged her tightly.

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When he got back to the apartment, Carly was asleep in the bedroom, a magazine lying open beside her. Brushing back a strand of hair, he kissed her cheek and forehead. She stirred and opened her eyes, blinking up at him.

'Hi.'

She smiled up at him. 'You're back.'

'I missed you all day.' He'd called her several times while at work and each time she assured him she wasn't lonely, having received several visitors who popped by. Melanie and Nicholas had come with the rest of her things, afterwards Shawn Douglas, Belle and Claire came and then Brady, Adrienne, Daniel and Jennifer.

'I missed you too.' She slipped an arm round his neck for a proper kiss, which he obliged before slipping off his jacket and took his place beside her.

'I hope they all didn't tire you out.'

'No, no...not at all.' she rested her head against his chest. 'I was glad to see them, especially getting to know Claire. Then Shawn D, Brady and Nicky ran off somewhere, for some real male bonding I guess.'

Bo chuckled, holding her close. 'I'm very glad Nicholas is getting on great with them.'

'Oh, me too. Nicholas and Brady really hit it off after Mel introduced them and he and Shawn D still have a sort of bond. He's really grown up, hasn't he?'

'He definitely has and I'm glad for your sake. Besides that, he and Mel are close too, just like it should be. But guess what... you're never going to believe what that sweet sister-in-law of yours sprang on me today.'

Carly opened her eyes, tilting up her head. 'What?' she asked curiously.

Wisely keeping out the part about the present tension between the family and the Hortons for fear that Carly would truly start blaming herself, Bo told her about Audra's thoughtful and generous suggestion. Her eyes widened when he brought out the house keys as confirmation. 'We're really going to Eleuthera?'

'Yep. You and me in the Bahamas... four glorious weeks alone together, relaxing in the sun...' he planted kisses on her mouth. 'Fishing, sailing... and then some.' He growled, slipping a hand under her T-shirt to caress her skin. He wasn't about to rush her into doing what she wasn't ready for but sometimes he couldn't help it. Neither could she. She kissed him back hard, desire surging through him as her fingers stroked his hair roughened chest.

'Oh definitely.' She murmured, looking deep into his eyes. 'I can't wait to make love with you again.'

Breathing unsteadily, he ran his thumb over her lower lip. 'Keep that up and I might just lose my self control, princess. There's more than a guy can take you know.'

She laughed softly. 'It's so thoughtful of Audra to plan all this. And Frankie too... this is a good sign, he's willing to give you a chance.'

'Let's hope things between us will be much better when we get back, he's my brother too.'

'I know, honey. And I'm sure it will.'

'We've come a long way, haven't we? We almost lost each other and here we are now.' He said softly.

'Yeah we have. And it's been a turbulent journey.'

'But it was all worth it. I have you back.' He kissed her again, taking her hand to kiss her palm. The emerald ring was gone.

'You've taken it off.' He said, rubbing his thumb over her bare finger.

She nodded, her expression solemn. 'I gave it to Adrienne to sell. Whatever she gets for it will go to charity in Tony's name.'

Bo was very much relieved. While he'd long realised that Tony Delfino was a good man, he didn't want Carly to keep wearing his ring, to him it had been like a seal of ownership.

'By the way... there's something I haven't told you yet.'

'Oh? What's that, princess?'

Keeping hold of his hand, she told him of her celestial encounter with his son, their daughter, Isabella and Tony, not forgetting to add what each had told her. At the bittersweet thought of his children actually playing with each other in heaven like he imagined, tears ran down Bo's cheeks. Sobbing too, Carly pressed her face against his. Some things were just so hard to accept yet the heavy pain in their hearts over Zach and Gwyneth lessened somewhat.