Act One

"And Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"

Lee's Georgetown Apartment

Thursday, June 23, 1988

5:30 PM

Amanda Stetson sat on the edge of the wingback chair in her husband's apartment. The sun filtering through the drapes was the only light illuminating the room. Her hands folded in her lap, she looked up at the ceiling, mouthing, "This can't be happening?"

Putting both hands to her face, she shook her head slowly. She tried to hold back the unshed tears, but a single tear escaped rolling down her cheek.

Getting up, she paced the room. 'He's going to kill me,' she thought. 'He's going to be so angry with me. Whatever are we going to do?'

Amanda walked back into the living room and sat down in the chair again. Her nervousness increased after edr Hehearing the familiar sound of a key being put into the door lock and seeing her husband open the door.

Lee walked in and after closing the door, placed his keys on the hall tree shelf. The sound of his shoes clicking on the parquet flooring stopped once he noticed her sitting there. His stomach clenched as a sinking feeling coursed through his body. He knew something was wrong. Something had been wrong for a couple of days now. Wracking his brain, he tried to think if it was him. Had he done something that would have made her angry? Mentally he shook his head. No, nothing was coming to mind. He decided the direct approach would be best, so he walked over to her. He could see the troubled look in her eyes. Reaching out to her, he put his hand on her shoulder and looked directly into her eyes. "What's got you so upset? Is it something I did?"

She shook her head no. Lee blew out a long breath. He had not even been aware that he had been holding his breath. He lifted her out of the chair and pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. He could feel Amanda's heart beating fast, her body trembling, next to his. She laid her head on his shoulder as he held her. "Nothing's really wrong, Lee. I'm fine," she told him, finally breaking the silence between them.

"Amanda?" He tenderly lifted her face to his. Lee had heard the hint of sadness in her voice and could see the silent tears running down her face. He knew she was not telling him the truth. He sighed. "Sweetheart, please let me in. Tell me what's bothering you."

Amanda sniffled a few times, trying to force the words past the lump in her throat.

He cupped his hands to her face and tried to wipe the tears away with his thumb. "Talk to me, please."

She placed her head back on his shoulder. "This is so hard."

"What, Amanda?"

"You're going to be angry with me."

"Honey, I love you. Nothing's going to stop me from loving you. Okay?" He told her holding her tighter. "You can tell me anything."

Lifting her head up off his shoulder, but not even looking at him she whispered, "I'm pregnant."

Amanda glanced up at her husband. She noticed him suddenly turn pale as the words began to sink in. He let her go and began to pace the room.

"You're pregnant? How? I mean I know how—I mean we've been careful." He ran both hands nervously through his hair. "We've been taking precautions. Haven't we?"

"Of course. But you know nothing's one hundred percent."

"How could you have been so careless?" He turned around to face her. Then cringed immediately regretting what he had just said to her.

"Now, wait a minute, Lee Stetson. What do you mean how could I? It does take two as you well know." She was deeply hurt. Sitting down on the sofa, she brought her knees up to her chest and lowered her head.

"I don't believe this," he said agitated. He needed to think. No, he needed some time away, some time to process all of this. He walked over to the door, his hand on the doorknob and then stopped. "What are we going to do about it?" he asked, slowly turning around.

"Lee, you can choose to be a part of this child's life or not, but I'm keeping this baby."

"That's not what I meant."

Amanda was shocked. "What? You can't mean you want me to terminate this pregnancy?"

"Amanda, please stop putting words in my mouth." He walked over to her, kneeling down in front of her. "Oh God, Amanda, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. You misunderstood me. And what I said came out before I knew what I was saying."

"That's when people are the most honest."

Lee reached out, running his hand down her arm. "If we're going to re-hash that old argument," he said with a cheeky grin. "Then if you recall, I also said—and the dumbest."

She tried to smile. He got up off the floor and sat down on the sofa, next to her. He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. She put her head on his chest. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.

"I know. I'm sorry, Lee."

"Shush, it's okay." He held tenderly, cradling her. "Everything's going to be okay." She relaxed in his comforting arms. "A baby, Amanda?" His voice full of awe, he shook his head. "Are you positive?"

"Yes."

"I can't believe it."

"Well, believe it."

Lee put his hand on his wife's belly. A small grin grew from the corner of his mouth. "I love you, Mrs. Stetson," his voice still full of emotion.

"How do you feel about all this?" she asked.

"How do I feel? Well, let me think—I'm nervous, fearful, concerned, anxious, but also very, very happy. I guess I'm feeling the whole gauntlet of emotions. What about you?"

"I guess the same as you. I'm as surprised as you, but I'm also excited to be having a baby with you. Our baby will be a part of me and a part of you."

"Our baby. I still can't believe it." He kissed her tenderly on the neck. "Are you okay with this? After all you have two teenage sons, you'll be starting all over again."

"It will be worth it—going through this—together with you."

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere," he said. "You know, maybe this is a blessing in disguise."

"What?"

"I'm tired, Manda. I'm tired of this mystery marriage. I'm tired of having to leave our bed in the middle of the night. I'm tired of sleeping alone. I'm tired of the sneaking around. I hate it the way it is now. I want more. I want to live openly as man and wife. I want to wake up with you by my side. I want the backyard barbeques and the softball games. I want the weekend playing basketball with the boys and doing yard work. I want the live-in mother-in-law, the mortgage and the white picket fence. I want it all. I wish we had some sort of semblance of a normal life. Am I asking too much?"

"Normal? What's normal with you, Stetson?" she teased.

He laughed.

"We'd certainly have a lot of explaining to do to your mother and the boys. Not to mention work."

"I know," Amanda said in a soft voice. Turning around to face him, she added, "Whatever we decide to tell everyone else, we need to tell mother everything; our jobs, our marriage, the baby, all of it. No more lies or secrets with her, Lee. I can't do it. Telling her everything is the only way we can justify what we have done."

"I agree. We'll tell her everything tomorrow morning after the boys have left for school."

"I love you." She leaned forward, gently kissing his lips.

"And I love you," he said returning her kiss. "How about I show you how much?" Standing up, he took his hand in hers, and pulled her up. With his arm around her waist they walked side by side towards the bedroom.