Starting Over-Chapter Seven
The next morning, Jill came into Amanda's room to check on her, saying,"How are you doing today, Mrs. King?" Amanda said,"Confused- could you call Mr. Stetson? I need to see him..alone.."
Jill nodded,"Sure- but first, the doctor is going to check your progress, to see if maybe you can finally go home.." Amanda looked anxiously at her. "Today?! Oh, I don't think I'm ready to leave today.." Jill said, "Well, that's what he wants to determine.."
Jill checked Amanda's pulse, blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature, making notes in Amanda's chart, and said, putting it back against the footboard of her bed,"Ok, let me go find the doctor, and you can visit with Mr. Stetson- he's right outside- I told him I had to check you first.."
She left, and Lee came in, smiling,"Morning- how ya doing?" Amanda said,"I had on a wedding gown, and you had a white tux, and we got married on an island- I remember palm trees- am I right?"
Lee chuckled, saying,"Good morning, Lee- how are you? Fine- couldn't be better- listen, I need to ask you something.." He looked at Amanda, and she bowed her head ashamedly. She said,"I'm sorry, I just-.." Lee took her hands, and kissed them, and said quietly,"It's ok, really-so, what happened? When did you remember that part?"
Amanda shrugged,"I dunno- I was with the family, and talking with the boys- it went ok-but then, I saw you in a tux, and we were getting married-we, uh, we..-" Lee nodded."Yes, we kissed-but, it was a fake ceremony- we were playing a cover for a case- I put down a phoney name, address- anyway, it wasn't legal, so we're fine.."
Amanda said,"Why do I keep having flashes like this? I feel like I'm in some movie that has no real end.." Lee sat in the chair near her, and held her hand."I think maybe, because you've had to hide me, and the job from your family for a while now.."
Amanda said,"How long has it been, Lee?" He said," About three years now-.." Amanda shook her head,saying,"So, wait.. why am I remembering you, and the job, but not really my family, except comments from Dotty?"
Lee joked,"Well, I've been told that I'm pretty unforgettable.." He laughed, and Amanda tried to hide a smile, but couldn't, saying, "This isn't funny-not at all!"
The doctor came in."Well, good morning- is someone ready to leave this place?" Amanda said quietly,"I don''t think I can- I don't really remember my family yet- I don't want to upset anyone.."
Lee said,"Um, you know, maybe if you went home, it might trigger things- and you won't have to worry about work- you'll have time to recoup- just don't push yourself, ok?" The doctor said,"Let me take a look here.."
Lee held her hand while the doctor examined the surgical area, taking off her wig. After a few minutes, he noted in her chart, and then said," Well, it looks like it's healing quite nicely, and everything else looks good also.. I'm going to go ahead and release you today- on your way out, you can pick up your prescription for pain pills.."
Shaking her hand, he said,"Take care- I'll get your release papers to sign.." Amanda said,"Thank you, Doctor.." He left, and Amanda said,"Could you call my mother, Lee?" Lee nodded,"I'll tell her you have a ride- I'm glad you have something to wear home.."
Amanda nodded,"Yeah, she brought an outfit with the wig- let me go change.." She went to the bathroom, and Lee called Dotty with the good news! Dotty said,"Does she need anything? I could come-.." Lee said,"No- I'll bring her- save you all a trip- are the boys at school now?"
Dotty smiled,"Yes, they just caught the bus- they'll be really happy to have Amanda home- seems like forever since she's been here- is she really all right now?"
Lee nodded, seeing her come out, adjusting her wig." Yeah- she'll have to follow up with her own doctor though, at the end of the week." Dotty nodded,"I'll call Dr. Goodman and set it up, and Lee?.."
Lee said,"Yeah?.." Dotty said,"I want to thank you for being there for her-Joe has to fly back tonight, but he offered to stay longer, if she needed it.." Lee smiled to himself. Some prayers do get answered, he thought! He then remembered that the man was the father of her kids, and that he should dial back his enthusiasm a notch.
He said,"I'll talk to her about it..we'll see you soon.." Hanging up, he said, "Ok- Joe and Dotty will be there when we arrive.." Just then, Jill came in, saying,"Here are your papers, and then, I'll escort you to the curb.." Lee said,"Oh, I forgot to pull the car around- see you in a few minutes.."
Amanda signed, and then Jill dropped the papers off at the desk to be filed, and then brought Amanda to the curb, where Lee was just pulling up. Amanda thanked Jill for everything, as Lee got her settled. Jill smiled,"You're welcome- oh, your pain medication- let me go get it.."
She returned a few minutes later, handing the bag to Amanda, saying, "Take care, Mrs. King..bye.." Lee got them on the road soon, and said,"Oh, by the way, Joe has to fly back tonight unless you want him to stay longer-Dotty wanted me to check with you about it.."
Amanda sighed,"Well, I don't want to keep him away from work- I've kept you away enough as it is.." Lee said,"Hey- I told you- I'm off until you're better, ok? Please don't worry about it.."
A short time later, they arrived at the King home. Lee pulled in the driveway, and parked. Dotty came out, and gave her a small hug."Are you hungry? I'm making pot roast for later- would you like a sandwich? Oh, here, let's get you inside.."
Amanda looked around the front lawn slowly as she and Lee followed Dotty in the house. When Amanda got inside, she wandered slowly from room to room, expecting something, anything to come back to her. Lee held Dotty back from following her, saying,"She has to do this on her own, ok?"
Dotty nodded, saying,"It's just hard watching her- I keep expecting her to have it flood back to her instantly.." Lee smiled, putting an arm around her,"I know.." Dotty said,"What about work for her?" Lee said," May I use the phone? I told our boss I'd let him know when she was home.." Dotty nodded,"Of course- let me fix lunch.."
Amanda came downstairs looking forlorn, carrying a book. Dotty saw her, and said,"What's that, honey?" Amanda said,quietly,"Oh, some photo album- thought I might take a look- see if anything hits me.."
Lee hung up the phone, saying,"Well, Billy and Francine send their best-.." Amanda looked at him blankly, and he said,"Billy Melrose, our boss, and Francine Desmond, his assistant.."
Amanda nodded, and then went back to her photos. She got to her wedding pictures of her and Joe."How old was I here?" Dotty came over to the couch where Amanda sat,"Oh,um, 24- or almost that- you had Phillip the year after, and then Jamie the following year- you looked so beautiful there.."
Amanda said,"You said we lost my father?" Dotty gulped,"Yes, dear- you were away at school when it happened- that's your Uncle Herman taking you down the aisle.." Just then Joe arrived. Coming into the room, he hugged Amanda, and asked,"You doing ok?" Amanda nodded, saying,"I wanted to try looking at our pictures, but so far, nothing.."
Joe said,"Well, it'll come back-give it time- so, do you need me to stay? I don't mind-really.." Amanda said,"No, I'll be ok with everything here- Dotty and the boys are gonna help me, so, I'll be fine- are you gonna say goodbye to them, or do you have to go now?"
Looking at his watch, he said,"I thought I'd talk to them during their lunch period, and then go to the airport- I'd better go now.." He went to hug Dotty, and she said,"Come back soon, you hear?" He nodded, and then shook Lee's hand." Nice to meet you, Lee- call me if she needs anything, ok?"
Lee nodded,"Sure, Joe-safe flight, ok?" Joe nodded, and then looked at Amanda. "Would you like to walk me out, honey?" Amanda shrugged,"Sure.." They went out the front door, and Dotty looked at Lee."Lee, what's wrong?"
He said,"Some of the memories she lost involve the divorce- I just don't like to see her in pain.." Dotty nodded."Oh, don't I know it- it took her a long time to get through that, but at least she had the boys.." Lee smiled,"And you.. don't diminish what role you played here- you mean the world to her- and I know she'll remember that someday.."
Dotty gave him a big hug, and said,"Thank you.." Just then, they saw Amanda come in crying. Dotty said, holding her,"Oh, precious, what is it?" Amanda got a tissue, and said,"That book means nothing , this house.. I want to feel something, but I just can't!" She ran upstairs, and slammed a door!
Dotty shook her head,"My poor baby- what do I do?!" Lee cleared his throat, saying,"Let me try?.." Dotty said, nodding," At least try to get her down here to eat- it might make her feel better.." Lee went up, and Dotty was glad Amanda at least responded to him. They all had a long road ahead of them.
TBC
