Love's Journey: Chapter 7

Amanda's House

Flashback

"Can I have another drink? My friend is still on her first drink."

Amanda simply smiled and took another sip of her gin and tonic.

"Why don't you bring her another drink anyway? Bring her what I'm having."

"Francine!"

"Amanda, live a little."

"Okay, two vodka martinis," the waiter said and walked away.

"So, how do you think Lee's feeling about the whole thing?" Francine asked.

"I don't know, probably afraid as well."

"Maybe, but then maybe not," Francine said casually. "I think once Lee knows what he wants, he goes after it and once Lee decided, well, that he wanted you, needed you actually, he went after you with fierceness. You know, kind of like he does with his job."

Amanda laughed. "I would say that's true."

"He may be scared of something else though," Francine said.

"Scared? Of what?" Amanda asked.

"Well, I think he's afraid of losing you," Francine said very sincerely.

"Oh, I don't know about that-"

"No?"

"He has nothing to worry about."

Francine arched an eyebrow.

"Oh, do you mean Joe? He and I are through."

"But I saw the way Joe was looking at you. And, I'm sure Lee noticed too."

"Well, he might've been looking, but it doesn't matter."

"Here you go ladies," the waiter returned with their drinks along with their salads. "The pasta will be out shortly."

"What about you Francine?"

Francine took several sips of her second drink.

"What?"

"You think you'll ever get married?"

"I don't know, at one time I thought I would."

"What happened?"

"I was stood up at the alter just before our wedding."

"Oh, Francine, I didn't know," Amanda said clearly upset.

"It's okay but let's not bring that up tonight."

"Well, what about the other thing you were going to tell me?"

"What? Oh, yeah, that!" Francine took a few more sips of her drink. "I was jealous because of two things, one because of my past with Lee and because Billy gave you a lot of cases that should've gone to me."

"Oh, Francine, I, well…"

"No, Amanda, it's okay. I see now that I shouldn't have been jealous. Lee, well is Lee. He needed someone like you to help ground him," Francine paused for a moment and then downed the rest of her drink.

"Francine, I don't know what to say."

"Amanda, it's not like Lee and I were ever serious."

Yeah, Lee said as much. Amanda thought to herself.

"Just mostly went out on cases, a little fun-"

"I know, a little backgammon," Amanda took sips from her second drink. "Yes, Lee and I've talked about it, well, a little and it is well…okay."

There was an awkward silence when the waiter stepped up. "Ladies, I'm sorry, but it will be a little longer for your pasta. I'm sorry, but the chef made you the wrong dish."

"That's okay," Francine said. "Well, let me have another drink."

They finished off their salads and talked about work a little, some of the cases last week as well as some of the last minute details of Amanda's wedding.

"Yeah, mother has been a big help," Amanda lamented.

"That's nice."

The waiter walked over again. "Your pasta will be out in a few minutes. How about two more drinks, on us, for waiting so long?"

"Sure," Francine said, her voice slurring just a little. "That will make my fourth drink. How about two vodka shots?"

Amanda was just finishing her second drink; she opened her mouth to say no, but said, "Sure," instead.

Finally, their food came out, but they were almost too distracted to eat it. They both took a few bites and then Francine stood up and said, "What about some music Amanda?" And without waiting for an answer, she sauntered over to the jukebox, pulling Amanda with her.

"Amanda! Amanda!" Francine began calling out loudly.

"What is it, Francine?"

"Is it me, or is it beginning to get hot in here?" Francine pulled at the long sleeve blouse she had on, tugged at the collar and then rolled up the sleeves.

"Hot?" Amanda repeated, unbuttoning the top button of her blouse. "Now that you mention it, it is rather hot in here."

They stood and glared at the jukebox. "What about this song, Francine?" Amanda asked pointing to a song on the jukebox.

"Amanda King, I wouldn't think you'd like Elton John!"

"Francine Desmond that just shows you what you know-NOTHING!" Amanda sputtered back at Francine and giggled a little which set Francine off into full-fledged laughter. A few men at the bar glanced their way.

"Whatcha looking at?" Francine asked as she walked over to one of them.

"You, cutie!" One of them said.

"Oh!" Francine retorted as the music started to play and Elton's John's "Benny and the Jets" belted out loudly.

End of Flashback

"Next thing I know, she's standing up, flipping her hair and headed towards the bar."

"Well, what did you do?" Dotty asked.

"I think by this time I was feeling the alcohol myself…and that was that," Amanda finished up. "Next thing I know, Francine is headed towards a bar stool and climbing up on top of the bar, and she is belting out Benny and the Jets, off key."

"Yes, Amanda?"

"Yes, what?" Amanda asked.

"And just what were you doing?"

"Hmm, I was right up there with her," Amanda answered quietly.

Dotty laughed at the image of her daughter, her Amanda on top of a bar. "Then what happened?"

"That's when Francine slipped and fell off the bar. She didn't hurt herself, but that's when I knew that we needed, well, a ride home."

"Hmm?"

"Because when I reached down to assist her, I felt a little dizzy myself."

"Ugh!" Moaned Francine from the sofa as she sat up and placed her hand to her head. "What happened? Where am I?"

Amanda and Dotty glanced at each other and burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Francine questioned holding her hand up to her head.