San Angelo With A Twist

Chapter 7

As Lee and Amanda made their way out of Virginia Beach that morning, he noticed that Amanda was still a bit upset by her silence in the car.

After a while, he glanced at her and noticed that she had a book with her and inquired, "Where did you find that book?"

Amanda replied, "In the room I was using. Why?"

Lee shrugged. "No reason. They won't miss it anyway. Don't worry about it."

Amanda stated, "Well, I wouldn't think so since the books there seem to be at least ten years old. You know, maybe they should update them."

Lee chuckled as he responded to her, "Uh well, people who stay there aren't generally there to just read. Hence the term, "hideout".

Amanda mumbled softly, "Wish I had a hideout."

Lee looked at her and queried, "What was that?"

But Amanda shook her head responding, "Nothing. It was nothing."

Lee then noticed a diner in the distance and got off at the nearest exit going toward it.

Getting there within twenty minutes he parked and Amanda looked around as Lee got out to help her out of her side.

She inquired, "What are we doing here?"

Lee replied, "Well, I haven't eaten yet."

As they got to the door and went in Amanda stated pointedly to him, "Well, whose fault was that? I fixed you a perfectly good omelet this morning before we left, remember? If you had just eaten it-"

Lee sighed responding, "I had just awakened and needed my coffee first. Don't start-"

Amanda then noticed a few patrons there who were looking at them and she whispered to Lee, "Shh."

Lee whispered, "Don't shush me."

Just then, a waitress came over and queried, "Hi. Two for a table?"

Before Amanda could answer Lee replied, "Uh, no. A booth in the back, please."

The waitress grabbed two menus and led them to the last booth available. " Here we are." She handed them both menus and asked, "Coffee and juice to start?"

Amanda stated, "I'll have juice."

Lee said, "Coffee with just cream, please."

The waitress smiled stating, "All right. I'll get your drinks and give you a moment with your menus. My name is Karly if you have any questions."

Lee and Amanda both thanked her as she turned to leave.

But Amanda teased Lee by saying, "I wonder if it's spelled with a y or an i like the girls you've dated-"

Lee groaned, "Ha, ha. Very funny."

Just then Karly came back, having overheard the comment and looking at Amanda stated, "My given name is Karlotta but it was hard for me to spell in school so I shortened it. It's K-A-R-L-Y."

Clearing her throat she then stated to Lee, "If you'll excuse me, I have to see to other tables. Blanche will be right over."

She left before Lee could fix the situation. He groaned looking at Amanda, "Great. What's with you anyway? Just because I didn't eat your stupid omelet?"

Amanda felt awful and shook her head. "I was joking. I-I didn't think she'd hear me. I'm sorry-"

Just then another waitress came over and stated, "I'm Blanche. Can I take your order now?"

Amanda responded looking around, "Can you tell me where Karly is? I want to apologize-"

Lee shook his head. "No, Amanda. Leave it alone, huh?"

Blanche replied, "She's in the ladies room."

Amanda got up before Lee could grab her hand to stop her. "Thank you."

Looking at Lee she stated, "Could you get a to-go order and I'll meet you at the car, please? I won't be long-"

She left and Lee sighed and gave Blanche a biscuit sandwich order and went up front to pay the check and wait for the sandwich.

A man had come into the restaurant and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and patted his pockets not finding his lighter.

Shaking his head he noticed Lee standing nearby and said, "Excuse me, but do you have a light?"

Lee shook his head, "No, sorry. I don't smoke."

Then Blanche came over to him with his order and he paid for the sandwich and went to the car hoping Amanda wasn't going to be that long.

Meanwhile, Amanda found Karly in the ladies room and said, " I just want to apologize to you for my comment out there. I was only teasing my friend because the girls he does date really do have names with an i or a y. I didn't mean to upset you at all."

Karly shrugged. "It's all right. It wasn't really you that upset me. I had a woman come in first thing this morning with her husband and I was just being friendly and she thought I was hitting on him. It was stupid, really. Are you and your friend okay, though? He sounded ticked when I left-"

Amanda shook her head. "We're fine. I've just had a rough couple of days and we're working through a rough morning with each other right now but we'll be okay."

Looking at her watch Amanda stated quickly, "Well, I've gotta go. He's probably outside now. It was nice talking to you and I hope your day gets better-"

Karly smiled as they walked out together and stated to Amanda, "He seems like a good guy and if he's anything like my husband, he's a keeper. Hope things are better for you, too."

Amanda met Lee outside and he helped her into the car and as Lee started the car he queried, "Did you get everything straightened out with her?"

Amanda nodded, "Oh, yeah. She was concerned when you got upset with me earlier but I told her we'd be fine. She also thought you were a keeper. Whatever that means."

Clearing his throat Lee replied, "Really? Well, I'll have to remember to thank her one day for that-"

Amanda sighed."Oh, like your ego needs any more of a boost. Honestly."

Lee smiled and stated changing the subject, "So, are we okay then?"

Amanda responded, "Sure. Why?"

Lee stated, "Because I have an idea."

Amanda looked at him warily. "Oh? Am I going to like it?"

Lee sighed. "Hear me out, okay? Why don't you call your mother and see if she needs groceries for tonight and then we'll go get them and I'll take you back to the Agency for your car that's still there. Sound good?"

Amanda shook her head in amazement. "Who are you and what have you done to my partner who hates normal?"

Lee groaned stating, "C'mon. I shop. I can handle a grocery store. Just call her, huh?"

Amanda still unconvinced, got on Lee's car phone and dialed.

Lee glanced at her from time to time as he drove and shook his head as he saw Amanda writing things down on a list while talking to her mother. There were more than a few items on the list from what Lee could see which worried him slightly.

Whatever made him offer to help her, he wondered as they were getting closer to Arlington.

Finally, Amanda finished the conversation with her mother and hung up. Lee remarked, "Sure you didn't forget anything?"

Amanda replied, "Ha,ha. Anyway, you know she's still taking driving lessons so I'm just trying to help her out. She's having her bridge club over for lunch tomorrow and I want to make sure she has everything. But then she told me the boys were out of their favorite cereal and would I mind getting it and milk-"

Lee stopped her by stating, "Okay, I get it. Should be an easy run-"

Amanda teased, "You don't mean like a milk run, right?"

Lee chuckled, "Ha, ha."

By the time they got to her grocery store it was lunchtime and of course busy.

Amanda stated as they parked and got out, "Lee, I'll just go in quick and get the absolute necessities and be out and we'll go-"

But Lee shook his head. "No. I said I'd help and I meant it. Let's get in and get out, huh?"

Easier said than done, Amanda thought as they weaved their way through the store.

By the time she and Lee got to the checkout lane, Lee looked like he went ten rounds with Muhammad Ali and lost.

Amanda noticed how beaten down he looked and shook her head stating, "Thank you for helping, Lee. I don't suppose you remember this from all your background checks but I believe there's a liquor store in this shopping center if you want to pick up something for yourself while I finish here?"

Lee brightened considerably as he looked at her. "Really? Oh thank you, Pretty Lady. I'll meet you at the car."

He kissed her cheek and dashed out the exit door making Amanda laugh. The poor man, she thought as she waited in line.

They met back at the car a little while later and Lee drove her to the Agency and helped her load her groceries into her car.

When they finished Lee stated jokingly, "Well, this has been fun but I've gotta get home. Anything else you need right now?"

Amanda smiled and kissed his cheek. "You've done more than you should have but thank you and I'll see you on Monday."

Lee smiled stating, "Count on it."

That weekend Amanda spent time with her family as they went back to their normal routine and settled back in their home for good.

Sunday evening was when Amanda got to really relax and curled up with a book. The boys had gone to bed already and Dotty came downstairs after her bath and joined her on the couch and queried, "So, how is Mr. Stetson? Lee, is it?"

Amanda thought, Here we go. She then replied, "Yes, it's Lee and he's fine. I'll see him at work tomorrow. Why?"

Dotty shrugged stating," Oh, I don't know. I was just thinking that he probably doesn't get a home-cooked meal very often and that maybe you could ask-"

Amanda finished her thought, "Him over for dinner."

Dotty inquired, "Well why not for heaven's sake?"

Amanda sighed. "Mother, please stop, okay? We're friends but we only work together. I'm fine, really."

Dotty got up and stated with finality, "All right, Dear. If that's how you feel, I won't push. I just want you to be happy. You know that don't you?"

Amanda got up and kissed her mother. "Yes, I do. Thank you. Now, I'll get the garbage out and check the locks before I go up, all right?"

Dotty sighed stating, "Guess that's my cue to go up."

Amanda watched Dotty go upstairs and shook her head. The woman drove her crazy at times but she couldn't do without her.

She went into the garage and took the cans out to the curb for pickup in the morning and came back in checking all the locks and was heading toward the stairs when she looked back at her kitchen table and did a double -take at the sight.

On the table was a crystal vase full of her favorite flowers and her favorite bottle of wine also.

There was no note, but she knew immediately who put them there and went to her phone and dialed Lee's car number.

He answered and Amanda swallowed hard as she queried, "How did you-"

Lee smiled into the phone as he pulled out of her neighborhood and headed for Georgetown. "You know I have my ways. Listen, maybe sometime soon we can work on that bottle together, huh? What do you say?"

Amanda nodded slowly and answered softly, "It's a date."

TBC