Kelly's Journey Continues

Chapter 7

The day of reckoning came in the King/Stetson household as Lee woke early the next morning wondering what he was going to say to Phillip about the previous day's behavior.

He understood the grief the boy was going through, but to lash out at everyone including his sister was too much. They were all feeling the loss as it was.

Quietly getting out of bed he went to shower and shave and dress for work. He wanted to let Amanda sleep in as she'd been more tired then usual lately.

A while later he came out and going to her he gently kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

Going downstairs he decided to get the kids off to school giving Amanda and Dotty a break.

But as he came down he smelled coffee and assumed Dotty was up but to his surprise, it was Phillip!

He saw everything they needed laid out on the table and asked him, " Um, Morning. What's all this?"

Phillip swallowed hard and shrugged stating, "Morning. Well, I want to apologize for being such a pain lately and make things right here. I know it's not much, but it's a start. I've decided to ground myself to begin with and that means I'll just do chores and stuff around here for as long as you and Mom say, all right? It's only fair. And I'll apologize to Kelly as well. Is it a deal, Lee?"

Lee sighed and gestured to the kitchen table commented, "Sit down, Phillip."

Lee got his coffee and adding cream stirred it before coming over. When he came over he sat across from his eldest stepson and answered sternly, "You are officially ungrounded, Young Man! But that doesn't mean that you are out of the woods with me. And yes, you are going to apologize to your sister."

Sighing once more he continued replying, "Look. I know what you and your brother have been through lately, but that doesn't give you the right to stomp over the people here that love you. Furthermore, Kelly is only seven years old and doesn't quite get what's happened here lately. Yes, she has a lot of questions but it's called inquisitiveness. I'm sure you drove your parents and grandmother equally nuts with your own brand of questions at her age. Your mom and I will tell her about your dad later but for right now, how about you telling me what you intend to say to Kelly?"

Phillip shrugged uneasily and commented, "I-I don't know exactly. I'm sorry. Really. I guess I wasn't thinking when I was yelling like that."

Lee nodding realizing how contrite Phillip was about the situation and answered swallowing, "Yeah. I totally get how upset you were at the moment because I went through the same thing when my folks died. I was four and moved around relatives until I moved in with the Colonel when I was Kelly's age. That's when I I learned pretty quick that he wouldn't put up with nonsense from me as hard as my situation was. Anyway, I want you to remember something. We're all here to help each other so if you want to talk more about your dad or anything, you gotta let us know so we can work it out together, all right?"

Phillip nodded wiping tears from his eyes remarking, "Th-Thanks, Lee. And again, I'm sorry."

They both stood then and hugged and Lee responded, "Okay, Pal. Why don't you get your cereal and eat and I'll see if-"

Just then Jamie and Kelly dressed came in while Phillip went to get his cereal and Kelly went to Lee whimpering, "Daddy! I can't get this brush out! Can you help me? I wanna look pretty for school!"

Phillip bringing over his bowl put it down and stated, "C'mere, Kelly. I'll help you."

Kelly came over to Phillip and she turned around so he could get the brush untangled from the knot in her hair in the back.

He commented slowly, "Kelly? I want to say I'm sorry about being mean yesterday. It wasn't your fault. I was sad about my dad-Uncle Joe. He's not here any more to talk to and I was pretty mad about the way he left because we still need him here. Anyway, I don't want to hurt your feelings like that again. So, are we still friends?"

Kelly looked at Lee and he smiled and winked and she answered, "Okay. But you can talk to my daddy any time. He's the best!"

Phillip chuckled and replied, "Y-Yeah, I guess I know that now. You're all set. But sorry, I don't know how to do braids."

Lee brought Kelly to him and remarked lightly, "It's okay, Honey. We'll do a ponytail today."

Finishing Kelly's hair he turned her around and remarked, "All right. Now you and Jamie get your cereal and-"

Just then Amanda and Dotty came in dressed and Amanda commented, "You guys don't have to go today if you don't want to. I told Mrs. Dennis you may not be there."

Phillip shook his head and answered softly, "It's okay, Mom. We have to, eventually. Right, Jamie?"

Jamie went to hug his mother and nodded stating, "Yeah. We're okay, Mom."

Just then the bus honked and it was a mad rush to the door with books and lunches and kisses from Amanda who yelled, "Wait! They didn't get their breakfast!"

Lee thinking quickly grabbed two apples for the boys and a banana for Kelly and whisked them out the door and shutting it asked Dotty, "How did you do it all these years with the boys?"

As Dotty chuckled Amanda replied crisply, "Well, if you hadn't let me sleep in they would've all had a good breakfast."

Lee groaned and commented, "For what? Eggs, bacon, toast and milk? Not everyone eats like that any more! They don't have time!"

Amanda retorted angrily, "Oh, sure! Like they really wanted just fruit for breakfast? C'mon, Lee! They'll be starved before lunch."

Lee threw up his hands in disgust responding, "Okay, so I blew it! Can we go, now?"

Amanda shook her head stating, "No. I haven't eaten yet or had my coffee. You go right ahead and have your stale doughnuts and coffee at work."

Lee grabbing his keys remarked, "Fine. But do you really want another lecture about being late from Billy?"

Amanda shook her head and grabbing her purse answered, "Fine! Let's go, then!"

But as they were leaving Dotty commented, "Amanda? What about your doctor appointment this morning?"

Amanda following Lee responded, "I canceled it, Mother. See you tonight."

As they left Dotty dialed Dr. Goodman's office and when the receptionist answered Dotty replied, "This is Dotty West. My daughter Amanda Stetson had an appointment this morning. What time was that exactly? All right. Well, you can expect her then with me."

Listening a moment she commented, "Yes, well this time she will be in if I have to drag her kicking and screaming. Uh, I'm sorry. It was a joke. However, you don't know how stubborn she can be. We will be there. Please don't cancel her. Thank you. Goodbye."

Hanging up she thought, I'll get you there, Amanda. One way or another. Canceling three times in a month is ridiculous!

TBC