A Wave Of Discord

Chapter 1

Amanda was in the kitchen one Saturday afternoon when the doorbell rang.

Phillip answered the door and couldn't believe his eyes at seeing Dean MacGuire of all people there! He queried, "What are you doing here?"

Dean cleared his throat and remarked, "Your mom invited me for lunch. She didn't tell you?"

Then Amanda appeared and responded, "Hi, Dean. Phillip, don't be rude. Let him in, please."

Phillip opened the door wide and promptly walked to the family room ignoring him and shocking Amanda!

She commented, "Young Man, come back here and apologize this minute!"

Phillip shook his head and muttered, "I'm outta here."

Without another word, he headed out the back slamming the door!

Dean shrugged remarking, "Well, that could have gone better."

Amanda sighed and shaking her head replied, "I'm really sorry. He's at that difficult age, you know?"

As Dean followed her into the kitchen he silently thought, It wasn't much better when he was younger. Then he remarked, "Your mother and Jamie. Where are they?"

Amanda was getting their iced tea ready to bring over to the kitchen table along with their sandwiches and stated, "Mother took Jamie and some friends to a movie."

Dean shrugged, "Gee, I sure know how to clear a house."

But Amanda shook her head and responded, "No, you did no such thing. Jamie asked me about the movie two weeks ago before I'd even talked to you. Here, let's sit down. Everything's ready."

As they sat and began to eat Amanda asked,"You said this was important. What's on your mind, Dean?"

Dean took a bite of his sandwich and swallowed stating, "Well, do you remember the place we stayed in when we had our vacation in Arkansas?"

Amanda pondered the question a moment and then nodded replying, "Oh, yeah. The cabin near the lake. It was very nice. What about it?"

Dean remarked, "Well, I bought it over a year ago thinking I'd be using it a lot on vacations, but since moving to L.A. to get that meterologist job at the station KTLA I really haven't had the time to head out there. So I was wondering if perhaps you and Dotty and the boys would like to have it for yourselves...or anyone else you might know?"

Amanda sighed and responded, "Dean, is that your way of asking if I'm seeing anyone? Well, the answer is yes I am, but he and I are far too busy at IFF to get away that often."

Dean nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Oh, that's right. Dotty mentioned that in her last letter to me-"

Amanda was perplexed and answered, "Wait. What? You write to each other? Don't get me wrong. I'm not upset. Just surprised that's all."

Changing the subject Amanda stated, "So, tell me about L.A. Do you like your job? I'll bet it's beautiful there..."

Meanwhile Lee was driving by the park on the way to Amanda's house when he spotted Phillip alone by the swings.

Turning the car around he drove into a parking space and shut off his engine, getting out of the car.

As he got closer he noticed Phillip's sour expression and stated, "Hey Chief. What's going on? You all right?"

Phillip merely shook his head as he sat on a swing and turned around and around until the chains twisted as he replied angrily, "No. That stupid weather guy is back and he's probably trying to worm his way back into Mom's life! She invited him for lunch for some dumb reason. Anyway, I'm staying here until that jerk's gone-"

Lee put up a hand and stated, "Hey . C'mon now. What's this about?"

Phillip remarked, "I dunno. I just thought maybe we'd never see him again. I mean, why would Mom invite him for lunch all of a sudden? It doesn't make sense. She's dating you so she doesn't need him around, right?"

Lee shook his head and responded, "Relax, Pal. They're just friends. And anyway, your mom told me he was coming over."

Phillip blinked at him surprised answering, "Whoa! And you're not mad?"

Lee chuckled, "No. When you first start dating Phillip, you'll meet a lot of different girls and I'm sure your mother dated a few guys before settling on your dad. And sometimes things don't seem to work out and relationships end. It took your mom and me a while before we found out we liked each other in the dating sense."

Lee then maneuvered the swing to straighten it out and then sat down next to Phillip and queried, " What made you think Dean was the reason your dad didn't come back? I'm sure your parents explained why they were getting a divorce. I mean, she didn't know Dean then anyway."

Phillip sighed and remarked, "Well, after him she didn't go out a lot and so I thought maybe she and Dad would get back together."

Swallowing hard he stated, "I'm sorry, Lee. You're a great guy and all, but-"

Lee nodded slowly and replied, "I know what you're trying to say here, Chief. And my feelings aren't hurt at all. See, we're all still trying to get familiar with each other and it takes time. But if we all work together, it'll come out all right in the end. Listen, have you told your mom any of your feelings here?"

Phillip shook his head and sadly responded, "I-I didn't want her to hate me."

Lee gently brought Phillip's chin up to him and remarked softly, "Hey... you know that wouldn't happen in a million years. And she loves you guys more than anything. You know that, right?"

Phillip felt tears come to his eyes as he nodded and asked somberly, "So, what now?"

Lee sighed and gestured him to stand up as he did and cleared his throat stating, "Well, why don't we go back to the house and if Dean is still there then you can try talking to him. You know, meet him at least halfway? I'm sure he's not that bad a guy."

Phillip chuckled responding, "Says the guy that's dating my mom now and wants to see this guy for himself-heh, heh."

Lee sputtered and pointed to the car, "Would'ja just go to the car and get in?"

As Phillip went ahead of him still amused Lee followed slowly thinking, Wow, kids are something else!

TBC