Family Adjustments
Chapter 2
It took Lee half an hour to find Jamie once he reached Baltimore. The new movie theater was located near the Orioles Stadium.
He parked and made his way across the street where he saw people filing out of the place.
Scanning the crowd, he finally spotted Jamie and George making their way to the arcade nearby.
Lee quickly grabbed them both from behind and pulled them along saying,"Okay fellas, play time is over. Let's go!"
When they got to Lee's car, Jamie angrily said,"Let go of us! Who died and made you the boss of me?!"
Lee tried to remain calm."Look pal, like it or not I'm the closest thing you've got to a dad right now, since yours is god-knows-where helping other families when he should be helping his own!"
Jamie growled,"Leave me alone already! What do you care what I do? You got Mom wrapped around your finger, Phillip's in your back pocket, and I can't imagine where you put Grandma!"
Lee looked at George and sighed."I called your dad. He should be here right about...now."
Just then a red Chevy Blazer pulled up to the curb and a stocky man about Lee's age got out and went over to them.
Shaking Lee's hand, he said,"Roy Miller. George's dad. I sure appreciate you getting the boys. Thanks for the call, Mr. Stetson."
Lee nodded."It's the least I can do. Call me Lee."
Jamie mumbled."I know what I'd like to call you."
Roy smirked and shook his head."We gotta get home, Lee. Thanks again." Looking at George his eyes narrowed."Thank Mr. Stetson for his trouble, George."
George gulped at his father's tone."Thank you sir. I'm sorry."
Lee patted George's arm."It's okay. Try to stay outta trouble, huh?"
George nodded, and the two got in the car and left.
Lee looked at Jamie and sighed."Well, what should we do about you taking off like this?"
Jamie shrugged silently.
Lee thought sadly,"Wow, he really has a chip on his shoulder." He then said,"Hey let's take a walk all right? Clear the air? C'mon."
Jamie reluctantly walked beside him and said,"Why? Why do you care so much?"
Lee said slowly,"Well I didn't have a real family to speak of growing up, just my uncle. We barely tolerated each other although it has gotten a bit better over time."
They sat on a bench near a shopping area and Lee continued."It was while I was on my 10th year with IFF that I met a very special woman who after working with her for 3 years now has changed my life completely, and before long I met her kids and was hooked."
Jamie said,"You mean Phillip and me, right?"
Lee groaned."No, the Kennedys." He grinned immediately to let Jamie know he was kidding."Of course you guys! Who'd you think I meant?"
Jamie nodded and said thoughtfully,"Lee, do you think Mom and Dad split up because of us?"
Lee was shocked!"God no! Whatever made you think that?"
Jamie said,"Well, he was gone a lot of the time and I kinda thought he didn't want to be around us until we saw him recently. He's getting remarried."
Lee nodded,"Your mom told me. How do you feel about it?"
Jamie shrugged."Carrie's okay I guess. It's just sometimes-."
Lee nodded."It's all right. Go ahead."
Jamie sighed."Well, I get mad at Dad for leaving and at Mom for letting him go. Is that wrong?"
Lee swallowed hard shaking his head."No, Ace. I felt angry at my parents after their deaths, but it wasn't their fault. It was just an accident. I know it's not the same thing. You and Phillip still have your folks. But things happen and life isn't always fair. You just have to hang in there..."
Lee tentatively put his hand on Jamie's and continued."Jamie, they love you more than anything and I'll bet if you talk to them the way you're talking to me right now that things can only get better, okay?"
Jamie smiled slowly as it started to sink in what Lee was trying to tell him. He said,"Thanks, Lee. I'm sorry I was such a pain today. Hey...before we leave, do you mind if we check out this camera shop here? My photography teacher says that if I wanna take really good pictures, that I'll need a good camera. Don't worry- I've got enough money for it."
Lee at last felt hopeful that they had reached a milestone in their relationship. He said nodding,"Lead the way."
As they reached the shop, Lee said,"Oh, can I make you an offer?"
Jamie said,"What kind of offer?"
Lee smiled."Well, I have a feeling that your mom wouldn't want you to blow all your allowance on this one thing, so maybe you'll let me go halves on it with you? Just in case there's something else you want later. Deal?"
Jamie nodded. "Sure. Deal." He shook Lee's hand on it and they went into the shop with Lee chuckling.
When they got back to the house they found Amanda in the kitchen making dinner with a perturbed look on her face!
She said looking at Jamie."Young man, you and I are going to have a long talk later! Now get upstairs and get washed up for dinner-move it!"
Jamie gulped. He hadn't seen Amanda that mad before! He nodded."Y-yes, Mom." Looking at Lee, he said," Thanks for everything, Lee."
Lee nodded and said,"You're welcome, Jamie."
As Jamie ran upstairs, Lee cleared his throat."Uh, Amanda, how did you-."
Amanda sighed."Mrs. Dennis called and talked to Mother. Why didn't you call me?"
Lee lowered his voice and kissed her temple."Because you were at the Federal Building all day and I didn't want you to worry, okay?"
Amanda shook her head saying,"By making Phillip tell me and his grandmother that Jamie was at a friend's house after school? How could you?"
Just then, Phillip came into the kitchen."Excuse me, Mom? I wanted to talk to you about something later but since Lee's here I'll do it now."
Amanda shook her head at Lee and mouthed to him."What now?"
Lee said,"What's up, Chief?"
Phillip sighed,"Well, Jamie's older now so I feel I shouldn't have to babysit him anymore. I mean, he clearly handled today like a pro."
Angrily Amanda looked at her eldest son. She said tersely,"Like a pro, huh?! Remember Dean and the gas tank incident? This tops that but not by much!"
Lee groaned,"A-man-da! C'mon, he got there safe and I brought him home-end of story."
In very clipped tones Amanda said,"Spoken like someone who's never raised a child!"
Lee then raised his voice saying,"In case you missed it honey, Jamie is almost a teenager! Phillip is right. You gotta stop babying him!"
They kept arguing, not noticing when Phillip left the kitchen and went upstairs to join Jamie in their room.
Jamie said,"So how long 'til I'm paroled?"
Phillip snorted shaking his head."As soon as they stop yelling about child rearing. When I left, Lee was saying,"What about Alexi? I did okay with him." I didn't understand that part of it since the kid was only with us once and he was either in protective custody of the Feds or like Mom said, part of a Big Sister program. Who knows?"
They both shrugged and went to watch TV in Amanda's room. It was going to be a long siege..
TBC
