Kelly's Journey Continues

Chapter 10

After lunch, Amanda was finishing up the files in the office when her phone rang.

It was Janice Taylor, the nurse at Kelly's school.

She asked, "Mrs. Stetson, is there any way you could pick up your daughter now? She has a slight fever and chills. I'm afraid the flu may be going around."

Amanda sighed answering, "Oh, gosh. Poor thing. Okay. Please tell her I'll be there soon, all right? Thank you for calling. Bye, bye."

Hanging up she then dialed Francine's extension asking, "Francine, is Lee back yet?"

Francine shook her head replying, "No and I don't know when they'll return. Is something wrong?"

Amanda responded, "I have to get Kelly from school. Looks like the flu. Could you let Lee know when he gets back that I'm gonna be home?"

Francine nodded and remarked, "Sure. Tell her I hope she's better soon."

Thanking her, Amanda hung up and got her purse and went downstairs.

She handed in her badge to Mrs. Marston and left for Kelly's school.

Arriving a little while later she got to the nurse's office and finding Kelly curled up on the cot went to her and touched her forehead kissing it and commented, "Ooh, you're warm. Okay, Sweetheart. Let's get you home to bed, all right?"

But as Amanda helped Kelly get up she swayed a bit and Ms. Taylor the nurse who came in behind her grabbed her querying, "Are you all right, Mrs. Stetson? Do you need to rest a while?"

Amanda shook her head and covered by stating, "N-No. I'm fine. I just had a lot to do today. Could you get some water for me though, please?"

She nodded as she helped Amanda to sit down and left quickly. Kelly then asked, "Mommy? Are you sick, too? Daddy won't like that."

Amanda shushed her as the nurse came back with the water stating, "Here you are. Take your time."

Amanda thanked her commenting, "Thanks. I just needed to catch my breath. That's all."

Feeling better a few minutes later she got up slowly and responded, "Okay, Kelly. We've gotta go home. Put your coat on, Sweetie."

When they arrived home Dotty took Kelly's coat off answering, "Janice called me. Now. While I put this little one to bed you go lay down on the couch, Missy."

Amanda groaned and took off her coat thinking, Why didn't you tell her not to call? Now she'll just fuss over me.

Going to the couch to lay down her mind once again returned to the time ten years before when Joe had gone back to Estoccia after their Rehoboth weekend.

Amanda learned she was pregnant a few weeks later. Joe had written saying he was off to Haiti but would call soon. How was she to handle this?

As she and Dotty came home from the doctor Dotty was thrilled and stated, "Oh, Darling! He'll be so excited. I know he will. What if you had a girl this time. Wouldn't that be wonderful?'

Amanda sat on the couch querying, "Mother, the boys weren't enough to keep him here. What makes you think another child will change his mind?"

Dotty joined her on the couch responding, "Listen. I wasn't thrilled when he joined the EAO either, but he has to be told-"

But Amanda shook her head stating frankly, "I'm sorry, but he lost that right when he decided to go back."

Dotty was shocked and commented, "Amanda Jean, you can't be serious!"

Amanda then put up her hand and remarked, "Okay. I'll tell him. But not until my third month. Just in case."

Dotty hugged her answering, "Darling, you'll be fine. I know you will. The doctor said so, didn't he? Stop fretting so."

Amanda shrugged replying, "But I'm not sure about this one. I don't feel the way I did with either of the boys when I was carrying them. My appetite's the same and I haven't had mood swings, except about Joe. No, this time is different somehow."

Dotty sighed and commented, "Please, Darling. Relax. I'll be here to look after all of you like I've been doing, all right?"

But one night into her second month, Amanda woke with what she thought was indigestion. Going to the bathroom she discovered some spotting.

Immediately getting Dotty up they called a neighbor over to watch the boys while they went to the hospital.

After an ultrasound it was confirmed that Amanda had a miscarriage!

Dotty did her best to console her daughter but there were no real words of comfort good enough for Amanda to stop blaming herself.

Coming home early the next morning she stated to Dotty, "That's it. I have my two boys and that's all I need."

Dotty was astounded by this and answered, "Honey, the doctor did say you and Joe could try again. You'll be fine to have more-"

But Amanda shook her head and replied sadly, "No, Mother. I'm done. Considering what he and I have been through already, I'm not doing this again. It hurts too much and my heart just isn't in it any more. I've also decided that he doesn't need to know what's happened here."

Dotty was incredulous as she remarked, "I-I don't believe what I'm hearing from you."

Amanda was insistent then and asked, "Do I have your word, Mother? Please? Promise me you won't tell Joe anything about this?"

Dotty slowly nodded and commented, "All right, Dear. Even though I don't happen to agree with you at all on this, I won't say a thing."

Amanda sighed as she hugged her mother stating, "Thank you..."

And now as Amanda laid on her couch in the present day with possibly the same problem, she thought of the three that she and Lee now had. Phillip was sixteen, Jamie was fourteen, and Kelly was now seven.

She wasn't at all sure how Lee would feel about a new addition. After all, he was still trying to get used to being a relatively new father to Kelly after being on his own for so long. And although he was great with the boys, it would still be an adjustment.

Dotty came down and seeing Amanda on the couch went to her and touched her forehead stating, "Well, you don't have a fever like Kelly so you must be pregnant."

Amanda sat up slowly and retorted, "Mother! I haven't heard from the doctor yet. Don't put the cart before the horse, all right?"

Dotty giggled as she sat next to Amanda and replied, "Oh, my. You sounded just like your grandmother then. But you're right. Let's wait until you get confirmation. By the way, what are you going to tell Lee?"

Amanda rose going to the kitchen to make tea and responded, "Gosh, Mother. I'm probably getting the flu, too. You can get dizzy from that as well."

Dotty followed her daughter remarking, "Yes, you can. However, I have some news about Carrie that fits into this conversation."

Amanda sighed commenting, "Gosh, is she getting the flu as well?"

Dotty sighed and answered, "You know perfectly well I did not mean the flu, Young Lady."

Amanda shrugged as the kettle whistled and Amanda took it off the burner remarking, "What else is there then?"

Dotty got cups and saucers and two tea bags out. Amanda poured the water into the cups as Dotty put in the bags and stated, "Carrie's pregnant and she only confided in me about it yesterday when she found out. She doesn't know how the boys will feel about it seeing as Joe is gone and they're still feeling the loss."

Amanda carried her cup into the family room responding, "Ah, I understand now. Well, I'll talk to them about it later. She's moved in with her parents until she figures out what she wants to do."

Dotty nodded following her and answered, "Did she mention Seattle? She has a college friend there that is starting a business and wants her to be a partner in a consignment shop. Sounds interesting."

They sat on the couch and Dotty remarked finally, "All right. We'll discuss Carrie later, but right now I'd like to know what has gotten you so worried about the doctor visit this morning?"

Amanda sighed and put her cup down. Looking at Dotty earnestly she replied, "Okay. If I am pregnant, why would Lee be happy about it? I mean, look. He was a bachelor for a long time before he even knew about Kelly and once he did it took a while for them to bond as it was. And don't get me wrong, he's crazy about the boys too. But that was also an adjustment period. With Jamie, in particular. Now, I don't think it's fair to spring this on him when we never really got a chance to talk about having a child of our own. And what about our jobs?"

Just then Lee himself came in the door and seeing the two women on the couch asked, "How's Kelly? I got the message earlier but I couldn't get home until now."

Amanda getting up went to his side and kissed him stating, "She's got the flu, unfortunately. She's in bed and I was just going to go check on her."

Lee shook his head and commented, "I'll do that. But when I come back down we're gonna talk, okay? Stay put."

He headed upstairs and Amanda looked to Dotty questioningly and Dotty got up answering, "I never said a thing, Dear. It's up to you to fill in the blanks here."

Dotty then went to put her cup and saucer in the sink and headed upstairs thinking, You and Lee need to figure this out all on your own...

TBC