Brand New Journey

Chapter 4

The next morning Lee woke early so he made coffee, showered and dressed for work. As he was looking at his newspaper a while later the phone rang.

Picking it up he stated, "Hello?"

It was Amanda who sounded panicked. She responded hastily, "Lee, I'm sorry to call so early but Mother and the boys just left and Kelly's missing!"

Lee put up a hand and remarked, "Hold on! What do you mean, missing? Did you check the house thoroughly?"

Amanda sighed and nodded answering, "Of course I did, Lee! Top to bottom-"

Lee thinking quickly commented, "How about the boys treehouse? Did you check that?"

Amanda groaned shaking her head and stated firmly, "Lee, she's only three! Get a grip-"

Lee irritated at her tone sputtered, "I-I'm sure like any other kid in this world she's figured out how to get up there! I'll wait while you go check."

Amanda shrugging replied, "Okay, hold on."

Putting down the phone Amanda rolled her eyes as she headed outside stating, "How that man ever came into my life, I'll never know."

Meanwhile Lee waited thinking, What's so strange about it? I remember climbing the tree in my yard when I was Kelly's age!

A few minutes went by and then Amanda got back on sounding a little winded. She gasped, "N-Not there. Now what?"

A thought enters Lee's mind as he queries, "Uh, Amanda? Kelly knows where her house is, right?"

Amanda shrugs and then straightens worriedly, "Yeah, but she wouldn't...Oh, Lee!"

Lee responded, "Amanda, calm down. Look, you go over there and wait on the front steps and I'll be there soon, huh? I'm almost sure that's where she went."

Amanda answered, "Yeah, okay. Gosh, I guess she really doesn't understand about Rose yet. What do I say to her?"

Lee shrugged and stated quietly, "I dunno but we'll think of something when I get there, huh?"

Amanda sighed and replied, "See you soon."

They hung up and Lee shook his head as he grabbed his jacket and keys and leaving the apartment thought, Kids...

Lee pulled up to the Morgan place a little while later and breathed a sigh of relief. There on the front steps was Kelly in Amanda's lap!

Parking the car he got out and approached them and while looking at Kelly stated to Amanda, "Hi. I see you found her."

Amanda nodded and positioned Kelly on her lap so that the child was facing Lee and commented to her, "Kelly, this is my friend Lee who I was telling you about. Say hi."

But Kelly just looked at him shyly and stayed quiet.

Clearing his throat Lee knelt down in front of her and remarked, "Hi, Kelly. I'm Lee. So what were you doing over here by yourself? You scared Amanda when she couldn't find you."

Continuing he then stroked the top of her little hand with his finger responding, "I know you don't understand this yet Honey, but you're still too little to be crossing streets by yourself, okay? Next time you wanna do that you let Amanda know so she doesn't worry about you and she can go with you. Promise?"

Kelly sighed and nodded slowly answering, "I p'womise."

Lee and Amanda chuckled as they looked at one another and then at Kelly.

Getting up Lee remarked to Amanda, "So, are you ready to go back to the house? We have to talk."

Amanda knew from Lee's expression that it was serious and nodded getting Kelly up and standing herself answering, "Yeah. C'mon, Sweetie. We'll go back and I can fix you some breakfast, okay?"

Kelly nodded but as Amanda started to move Kelly stayed put.

Amanda queried, "Honey, what's the matter?"

Kelly looked at the house and then at Lee and Amanda asking, "But what about Grandma? Can't she come?"

Lee sighed and responded, "Yeah. Well, she's-"

Amanda swallowed hard and cut in stating gently, "Kelly, do you remember what I told you about heaven?"

Kelly thought for a moment and then commented, "Grandma's there?"

Amanda bent down to her and taking her hand nodded answering, "Yes, Sweetheart. And she's okay there because she knows we're looking after you. And no matter where you are or what you do she'll always be with you-"

Amanda then patted Kelly's chest gently remarking, "Right in your heart, okay?"

Kelly smiled then and responded, "Okay. Let's 'wace!"

Lee smiled stating to Amanda, "You go ahead. I've gotta move the car. I'll meet you back there."

Looking at them both he then commented, "All right. Are you ready? On your mark, get set...go!"

As the two ran off Lee laughed as he went to his car. She's a cute kid, he thought as he started the car. Bewildered he shook his head answering out loud as he started the motor, "Wait. Did I just say that? Aww, I knew it! I'm already in! Dang it!"

He drove back toward Amanda's parking at his usual place at the curb down a bit from her house and got out of the car remarking, "Suburbia at it's finest. I gotta stop coming over so much..."

But as he went around to the back of the house to Amanda's patio he shook his head thinking, Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

Amanda saw him and letting him in asked, "So you found out about her family, huh?"

Lee gestured in Kelly's direction at the table where she was eating and answered, "Well, what about-"

Amanda shook her head and gave Lee two cups of coffee to take out stating, "I'll be right out as soon as I set her up with a movie. "Mary Poppins" is always a favorite."

Shrugging, Lee nodded as he went to the patio table and sat down with the coffee. As he waited, he thought about all that had happened so far and it seemed surreal to him.

Alexi was one thing. It was just keeping an eye on him while he tried finding his parents. But Amanda was right there doing most of the heavy stuff. She was a parent and knew most of the ins and outs of raising kids.

Ah who was he kidding here, he thought as he watched her and Kelly through the French doors. He'd never in a million years be able to take this on and make it work. No, there had to be a solution. He just couldn't solve this as easily as a case and it rankled him a bit.

Lost in thought he didn't hear Amanda as she came out and stated, "So, what about Kelly's family? Lee?"

He then looked at her finally and shaking his head he sighed and commented, "Sorry. I was just thinking."

Amanda nodded and remarked worriedly, "Yeah, me too. I'm worried that Kelly will leave the house again to go look for Rose because she doesn't understand-"

Lee nodded quickly and responded, "I know, I know. But I did find out more concerning Kelly and it involves Eva Spinelli-"

Just then, the phone rang from the kitchen.

Amanda got up from the chair replying, "Eva? Gosh, I'd better get that. It might be Mother. Hold that thought."

As Amanda went in Lee sighed and thought, Hold it? I'd like to bury it along with Eva and all the other nightmares I've had over the years! But Kelly was a complete innocent in all this. No kid deserves to go through this.

Amanda came out and remarked, "It's Mr. Melrose. He needs to talk to you."

Lee got up and nodded responding as he went in, "Keep my seat warm."

Amanda chuckled as Lee went in closing the door. As she sat down and sipped her coffee which was now lukewarm she thought about Lee and this crazy new world she was involved in.

He really wasn't all that complex but he did have a lot of layers which she hoped someday to be able to pull back one piece at a time until she could truly figure him out.

Meanwhile Lee leaned against the kitchen counter as Billy stated, "Lee, our contact who found Angelo sent some information along to us and we're checking it out now. Have you told Amanda anything yet?"

Lee shook his head responding, "Uh, I was about to. Why? Should I hold off?"

Billy shook his head and answered, "No. The sooner we take care of things, the better. Besides, I won't have anything concrete for you until morning. You see, we're checking out Angelo's medical records-"

Lee swallowed hard and replied, "He's not sick, is he?"

Billy shook his head remarking, "No. As far as we know, he's fine. But there's a question as to whether or not he could be Kelly's natural father-"

Lee stated slowly, "What?"

Billy asked, "You remember Eva's letter when she said that the father was someone who disappeared before she went to prison?"

Lee answered with a somber nod, "Yeah. But thinking back to that last day I talked to her before they took her to jail she told me that marrying Angelo was just an assignment. Damn! So, she used Angelo and brought that kid into the world for what? So that the kid winds up alone without anybody?"

Billy cleared his throat and responded, "Not exactly, Scarecrow. She has you and Amanda for now. Tell Amanda what you know for sure and also that you're waiting for confirmation on the last thing. At least Kelly's fine where she is. Talk to you later, Lee."

Lee answered, "All right. Thanks, Billy. Bye."

Hanging up the phone slowly Lee sighed. What would happen to Kelly now, he wondered as he went outside to talk to Amanda...

TBC