Passageway
Chapter 1
Lee brought the last of his bags to the front door and looked upstairs. He knew at this hour of the morning, Amanda had already begun her shower and was preparing for the day ahead.
Shaking his head he thought about the catalyst that brought them to this point. If only they'd come to some sort of understanding through the therapy sessions they'd attended, together or separately.
There was no easy fix to this except time. Sighing he put one bag under his arm and then opened the door and grabbed the second one when Dotty appeared from the kitchen stating, "Wait, Lee. I want to talk to you. Surely you have time for a cup of coffee at least?"
Lee shook his head sadly and answered, "I'm sorry Dotty but frankly, I didn't sleep all that well and I'm talked out at the moment so if you don't mind-"
Dotty nodded and replied sadly, "Yes! Yes, I do mind. Perhaps if Amanda and Joe tried harder to work out their problems, we wouldn't even know each other today. But we do, Young Man. So either you join me in here or I follow you wherever you're headed until this is settled."
Seeing the look of steel determination on her face Lee slowly nodded and putting down his bags, he closed the door following her out to the kitchen responding, "I know what you're going to say-"
Dotty brushed his response aside commenting, "Oh you hush now! You have absolutely no idea and you know it! Now go sit down while I get your coffee. Cream, right?"
Lee went to sit at the table wordlessly nodding as Dotty got their coffee and joined him.
Dotty began by remarking, "I'll admit we don't know each other well enough, but I read you like a book and I see how much you love each other and that has made the boys and I very happy. Now given the problems you've had lately, I can't believe that it's so bad that you're giving up completely-"
Lee put up a hand retorting, " Wai-wait! You think we're divorcing?"
Dotty threw up her hands and shrugged exasperatedly responding, "Of course! Why else would you be skulking out of the house at this hour-"
Amanda appeared suddenly in the doorway and sighed stating, "Because we talked it over last night and agreed that for now, we need space. You and the boys don't need the tension between Lee and I any more than we do. We're not divorcing. We still love each other but it's better this way. For now..."
With that Lee went to her and kissing her cheek gently held her stating in a whisper, "See ya later."
He then went to give Dotty a hug and kissed her temple remarking, "Thanks for everything."
As he went toward the front door again Dotty exclaimed, "Now wait just a darn minute, you two!"
As Lee and Amanda looked at her Dotty stood up from the table and pointing upstairs remarked, "Don't you owe those boys of yours an explanation? Amanda, they went through enough hurt when you ended things with Joe five years ago. Are you telling me you want to do it again?"
Lee sighed and commented, "Dotty, it's okay. The boys and I had a talk last night. Yes they're upset about it but I reassured them that it was only temporary."
Just then Phillip and Jamie came down and Phillip stated, "Yeah, Grandma. It totally blows but we'll still hang out with him. And Mom doesn't mind. Do you, Mom?"
Amanda went to hold her sons and swallowed hard as she shook her head responding, "Not in the least, Sweetheart. Not in the least."
After a moment Amanda cleared her throat and commented, "Okay, Fellas. Why don't you get your cereal and eat. The bus will be here soon enough, okay?"
Lee was overwhelmed as the boys hugged him next and he whispered, "I'll call you in a few days. Take care of your mom and grandma, all right?"
As Lee headed out with his bags Amanda remarked to Dotty, "I'm gonna walk him out."
She walked with Lee to his car and Lee swallowing hard queried, "So, have you told her anything about why this is happening?"
Amanda shrugged answering, "I'm not so sure she'd understand. At least not totally."
Lee putting his bags in the trunk and shutting it stated, " Well, whatever you want to tell her is fine with me. Really."
Amanda asked, "You mean about our job? Because we were on assignment when it happened and-"
Looking at his watch he swallowed and nodded remarking, "Yeah, I'll get with Billy about it. I'll just tell him there was no getting around the truth this time. It'll be okay. I gotta go. Are you coming into work later?"
Amanda nodded slowly and replied, "Yeah. I have a session with Bridget and then I'll be in."
They hugged and Lee remarked, "I love you."
Amanda gulped as tears came to her eyes and she nodded whispering, "I-I love you, too."
They parted slowly and kissed and then Lee got in his car and pulled out of the driveway as the bus was approaching around the corner near the house.
He went in the opposite direction as Amanda ran in to get the boys yelling, "C'mon, Boys! Move it!"
Phillip and Jamie kissed both Dotty and Amanda and ran to get on the bus and just made it!
As the two women went back into the house Amanda stated, "Well I have to go, Mother. I'll let you know if I'm gonna be late-"
But Dotty steered her daughter toward the family room shaking her head and responded angrily, "Not so fast, MIssy! I want the truth and I want it now! What's so awful between you and Lee that he felt the need to move out? Because I don't buy the excuse that you "mutually" agreed to that decision! Now call IFF and tell them you'll be late because you're not leaving until I get a reasonable explanation! Otherwise, the boys and I will feel that we have been lied to about your so-called "happy" marriage!"
Amanda stung by her mother's words slowly nodded and went to the phone dialing the Agency.
Giving Mrs. Marston a running late excuse, she hung up and went to sit on the couch next to Dotty and responded quietly, "It's not going to be easy telling you what led to this point, Mother. But I'll try..."
Dotty swallowed hard as she looked at Amanda. Her daughter had changed somehow recently and she had a feeling that things weren't going to be the same after this talk...
TBC
