Starting Over-Chapter Ten

Lee and Amanda came back from the gazebo, and came into the kitchen, and Dotty said,"There you are.. that was Debbie Ann Mccabie-she was calling from a gas station-she'll be here soon..Amanda, are you still ok about her coming?"

Amanda shrugged,"I don't know, Dotty- I think I'll go lie down- call me when she gets here.." She went up, and Dotty shook her head,saying to Lee, "I wish I knew how to help her.."

Lee nodded,"I know-hey, earlier you said,"Hard to tell"-what did you mean by that?" Dotty said,"Well, she came down before you arrived, and the boys were getting ready to leave for school- well, she hugged them, and they broke away from her-they were going to miss the bus if they didn't hurry-but she was the saddest little thing when they left-maybe she remembered something?"

Lee nodded,"Yeah. She said she hurt her leg- I told her she came to work in a cast, because she was showing the boys a hook slide, and she messed up her ankle."

Dotty said,"Well, that's something at least.." They heard a thump from upstairs! Running up, they saw she wasn't in her room. Then, Dotty tapped Lee, saying,"Attic.."

When they got up there, they saw Amanda surrounded by boxes, and an old crib, and a dresser. She was going through the boxes at a frantic pace, saying angrily," Damn it- I know this stuff- why can't I remember it?!"

Just then, they heard the doorbell. Dotty said,"Oh, gosh-that's Debbie.." Lee said,"Bring her up here- maybe this will jog Amanda's memory.."

Going to Amanda, Lee helped her up, saying,"It's gonna be ok- I promise, huh?" Dotty soon came up, bringing Amanda's friend."Um, Lee Stetson- this is Debbie Ann Mccabie- Debbie, this is Lee-he works with Amanda at IFF.." They shook hands, and then Debbie stepped toward Amanda.

Debbie smiled, saying,"Ok if I give an old pal a hug?" Amanda nodded, and as Debbie held her, Amanda began to cry! Debbie tried to joke,"Hey, we gotta stop meeting like this, A.J."

Lee said,"Who..?" Debbie said, getting tissues out, and giving one to Amanda, and wiping her own eyes,said,"Ah- I'm D.A.-she's A.J.- we liked each others middle names, so we coded each other.." Amanda pulled away from Debbie, and said,"My yearbook's downstairs, if you wanna look.."

She left the attic, and Debbie said,"Whoa- is it really helping, my being here?" Lee sighed,"She's been through a lot already- it's bits and pieces she remembers mostly right now, though.."

Then they heard her yell,"Hey- are you coming down, or what?!" Debbie said,"Wow- she really is lost..lead the way.." Lee let the ladies go ahead of him, and they found Amanda in the family room, with the yearbook, and the photo albums.

Amanda said,"Dotty, are my pills here? I couldn't find them in my bathroom.." Dotty said,"I have them here with the aspirins- Lee..?" He got the water, and Dotty handed him a pill, and he brought both over to Amanda, saying,"Here- you ok?"

Amanda downed the pill and water, nodding, and said finally, "Headache." She sighed, and giving Lee the empty glass, said to Debbie,"You're very nice to come and help me- sorry I'm such a pain.." Debbie touched her arm as she sat next to Amanda."It's ok-I was going to come see you anyway.."

Amanda said,"So, who locked Conrad in the science lab?" They were stunned! Lee said,"You remember that?" Amanda said,"I guess- he wasn't at Picture Day, so..?"

Lee said,"We were on a business trip in London- you told me that he wasn't absent that day- that he had locked himself in.." Debbie howled with laughter! "Oh, I wish I'd been there then!.." Amanda said,"Where were you?"

Debbie said,"We moved in '65- I left before school let out- Dad got a job in Richmond- I've been there ever since.."

Dotty said,"Why don't we eat, and then Amanda can go through the book with you.." They ate, and at one point, Amanda got up, and went to the back yard, without finishing her sandwich.

Dotty muttered in frustration,"Oh, that girl- I swear! She does that all the time-what's so fascinating about that back yard?!"

Lee got up, patting Dotty's shoulder,"It's ok- I'll go.." Debbie said,"I'd like to know myself.." They headed outside, and found Amanda just finishing a split! Then she got up, and went a did a cartwheel! Debbie hugged her! "Wow- you're still in great shape! Just came to you?"

Amanda nodded,"I don't know why- the flashes come like clips of a movie.." Lee smiled, winking at her,"You'd look a whole lot better in your skirt!.."

Amanda playfully hit his arm, saying,"He only says that because he was a football player..and why can't you trust a cheerleader?"

Lee realized she was remembering the Mongoose case, where Conrad had said that very thing to her! He tried to act confused."I'm sorry- what?.."

Amanda said to Debbie,"Dotty said I hid you in our attic one time when you ran away- was your dad mad like she said mine was?" Debbie said, sighing, "Yeah, he was- I got the same sentence you did- I-I miss him.."

Dotty had been by the door, listening, and said," Dear, Debbie's father died last year.." Amanda said,"I'm so sorry..here, let's go look at the yearbook.."

After a few more hours, Debbie said,"Well, I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but my school is having a benefit tomorrow- I really have to go.." Amanda went out to the car with Debbie.

She said,"I wish everything could already be normal- I feel like you wasted a trip today.." Debbie hugged her, saying "Are you kidding?! This is just what we both needed, kiddo- but don't worry- you can call me anytime- I left my number with Dotty, ok?"

Hugging Amanda again, saying," I love you, A. J..." Debbie got in her car, and as she drove away, Amanda waved, and then sat down, feeling like everything had crashed around her!

She sobbed, feeling like she had nothing left! Lee came out, and wordlessly scooped her up, and carried her into the house- Dotty held the door open, and Lee brought Amanda upstairs.

Laying her on the bed, he held her until she fell asleep. Getting up finally, he went downstairs, and said to Dotty,"I'm gonna go too- she needs to rest now.." He turned to leave, and Dotty said,"Lee?" He turned back to her."Yeah?"

Dotty said,"Would it help if you brought her back to work? I mean, the typing, and filing alone would get her mind on something else for a while-oh, but she has her check-up in the morning-.." Lee nodded."Yeah- tell you what- I'll pick her up at the doctor's when she's finished, and bring her to the office- might be just what she needs at this point.."

Lee hugged her and left. Getting into his car, he dialled Billy." Billy, I'm bringing Amanda in tomorrow- no, she only has bits and pieces so far, but I'm hoping the more she's keeping busy..yeah, yeah, ok- thanks..see you tomorrow.."

The fact that she remembered yet another case kept Lee hopeful that the rest would come back soon as well..

TBC