The next day, Sunday, dawned bright and clear, a fall day in the nation's capital that made everything look good. Both Amanda and Lee were up early, each anticipating their time together in just a couple of hours, both knowing there was a conversation that needed to happen.
At 9:45, Amanda once again stood outside Lee's apartment and knocked, heart beating fast, and again, a little nervous. Lee opened the door. "You are a sight for sore eyes, Amanda King." She smiled weakly. He pulled her and wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug.
She clung to him and buried her face in his shoulder. After a couple of minutes Lee felt Amanda shaking. "Hey, are you crying?" he said pulling back to look at her face.
She nodded, "I'm sorry." She gulped. "I was just so scared and I was with you and they couldn't find me and I wasn't there when he woke up in the hospital . . . Thank God Joe was around. I don't know what I would've done without him." Lee handed her a box of tissues. He wondered uncomfortably what Joe did to be so indispensable. What would Lee have done?
She nodded, wiping her eyes. "I've missed things before, you know, the play and the open house. But I was working those times. Friday I wasn't even where they could find me-what if it was something worse?"
Lee handed her a glass of orange juice. "I'm just glad it wasn't," he said. This was new territory for him and he wasn't at all sure what he should say or do. "How about some breakfast?" he asked. She nodded. "That would be great - I'm starving." She could tell he was uncomfortable.
He went to the kitchen to start cooking and she followed. "Scrambled eggs and bacon ok?" He asked. "And some toast?" She nodded. "Sounds divine. I haven't eaten a lot this weekend."
"I have to say" as he started the coffeemaker, "I didn't think breakfast would be the first meal I would make for you," He winked at her and her heart skipped a beat.
"So what did you end up doing yesterday?" She drank some more orange juice.
"Oh, you know me, party, party, party," he said as he whisked the eggs.
"Really." She raised her eyebrows.
"Actually," he said. "I watched a lot of TV and did a couple of errands." He turned and popped a strawberry in her mouth. "Mostly, I thought about you. I've been doing that a lot lately." The toast went down and he flipped the bacon. "I called the hospital yesterday morning, just to see what I could find out."
"That was you? They told us someone called but wouldn't leave a message," she said. "Very sweet."
"Come, let's sit," he said, heading for the table.
They ate in silence for a couple of moments. "Amanda," said Lee.
"Mmhm?" She took a bite of toast.
"I'm not sure how to do this."
"Do what?" she asked, looking at him and gestured to her plate. "The eggs are very good."
"I've never dated someone who had children."
"You're kidding." She put her fork down. "Ever?"
"Well, no." He took a deep breath and avoided her eyes. "I mean, you don't meet a lot of women with kids in my line of work. And most of them are, have been," he stopped. She narrowed her eyes. "Been what?"
"Well, not our age," he said getting red.
"Younger, you mean." He looked down. She leaned forward, smiled, and said "Well, you are in for a treat."
"No, I'm serious, Amanda. I watched you the other night and saw how worried you were. Joe too. And you've been talking about how he was indispensable. I just don't know how I would have reacted, if I could have been there for you in the same way." He was looking more vulnerable than she had ever seen him. "I've never depended on anyone or had anyone depend on me like that."
She took his hand. "You were there for me." He looked at her and shook his head slightly. "Yes. You were. You didn't hesitate and you got me to the hospital and you were there when I called twice and you let me cry today."
She picked up the plates to take them to the kitchen. He followed her with glasses. She put the plates down and turned back to him. "The thing is, Lee," she said. "This is what it will be like . . . My boys are going to need me, sometimes more than others and I want and need to be there for them. It not going to be any easier if we have to keep this quiet for a while."
"I know," he sighed. "But I think we have to."
"Agreed, but I have to let my family know how to find me. I gave them your number today." She knew he kept his number unlisted for professional and personal protection.
"What did you tell them?" He asked warily.
"Something vague about going out to brunch with IFF friends," she replied."I'm not entirely sure Joe bought it," she added. "This is hard. It's hard enough to keep my work from them and now another secret. I don't know you've kept your silence this long."
He shrugged. "I haven't had anyone to keep things from, really. I didn't realize till this weekend how difficult this can be for you."
"I'm thinking how unfair it can be to leave you hanging, wondering if I'm going to be here or not, changing plans at the last minute. I'm just not as free as you are, or available."
He nodded, looking stricken. This relationship was not going to be as easy as he thought.
Amanda could tell he was turning things over in his head, realizing he couldn't be the only one in her life, not like other women. She took a deep breath. "So what now?"
They stood in the kitchen just looking at each other.
"Well, said Lee, "right now, you're here and so am I. We're not going to settle anything this minute. Let's not waste a beautiful day - how about a long walk in Rock Creek and clear our heads." He knew he sounded like he was avoiding something. And maybe he was.
An afternoon with Lee, not working and letting go of all her fears for a while might be just what the doctor ordered.
"Great idea," she said, "but first I, uh," she looked at the phone. He smiled, "of course, call home." He started to rinse plates.
She let her breath out slowly and picked up the phone to dial. While it rang at her house she watched Lee cleaning dishes in the kitchen. How can anyone look so good just doing dishes, she wondered.
"Hello, Joe?" she said. "How are things? How's Jamie?" she listened for a moment. "Oh good, he needed to get some sleep. Did Philip come home yet?" She nodded. "Let me speak to them." She looked at Lee, watching her from the kitchen doorway.
"Hi sweetie! How are you feeling?" She nodded a couple of times. "I'm so glad you got your sleep." Jamie clearly had a lot to say. "I know, it's hard, but you really need to take it easy. How's your brother?" She paused, "Ok, I'll talk with him."
Lee was enjoying watching Amanda talk on the phone. There was something so appealing about her at this moment. She lit up as she talked to her boys and smiled a lot. He did like to see her smile.
"All right, Philip, you need to not bother your brother today. And you need to get your social studies project done." She waited. "We can do that when I get home. Ok, sweetheart. Does your dad need to talk to me again?" She look at Lee looking at her. "What? Oh sorry Joe. No everything is fine. I'll be home in a few hours." She looked at Lee and shrugged slightly. "Thanks again, Joe." Mentally, Lee sent his thanks to Joe as Amanda hung up the phone.
"Ready to go? she asked. "Yep," Lee answered. "Let's get out of here."
They spent the the next few hours dodging bicyclists an joggers in Rock Creek Park, as Amanda regaled Lee with stories about Philip and Jamie, while Lee told her about his adventures wandering the globe with the Colonel. More, he realized, than he had ever told anyone.
The sun was beginning to dip below the trees when they returned to Lee's apartment.
"That was wonderful," Amanda said, "just what I needed."
"Good," said Lee, "me too." He put his arms around her and pulled her close. "You got some sun ... " He kissed her nose. "So - can you stick around for dinner? I still have a steak we can share."
"I can't," she said, "school night."
"Well, I know the principal pretty well - I'm sure I could get you a tardy pass for tomorrow," he grinned.
"No, Lee - a real school night," she said. "I have laundry to do, lunches to make, Philip has a project due . . ." her voice trailed off, watching his face fall.
"Will I at least see you in the office tomorrow?"
"I don't think so, I have to go into school to get Jamie's homework and he has his doctor's appointment. This is what I was talking about-I can't just drop everything at a moment's notice. And there will be lots of times like this. I need you to know what you are getting into."
"Stop, Amanda," he said, putting his finger on her lips. "I get it. And I can live with that - I will take every moment, stolen or otherwise. And when we're together we'll just have to make up for lost time. What I can't live with is not giving this our best shot."
She looked at him and put her arms around his neck. "Remember when I said you were in for a treat?"
"I sure do," he said. And she kissed him. Long and slow and deep. It left him breathless and just a little weak at the knees.
"I should go," she said, when they finally pulled apart.
"Uh, right," he said a little huskily. "I'll ..." he cleared his throat, "I'll walk you to your car."
At the car he leaned in the window to kiss her goodbye as she started the engine. "Call me when you can," he said. "Count on it," she said.
He watched her drive away in her station wagon. "Oh yes, Amanda King," he thought, "I can definitely live with that."
-End-
