Chapter 10: Francine Has This to Say and Lee and Dotty Talk

Amanda was just coming out of the elevator and walked towards one of the meeting rooms, as Francine was headed towards her. Amanda was so lost in thought over Lee's behavior, his cool and calmness, that she was about to walk past Francine, when Francine called out, "Amanda?"

"Huh? Hi Francine."

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing, well—"

"You and Lee on the outs?"

"Yes and no."

"Men, I swear, you can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em."

"Look, I've gotta go, but can we meet for lunch?"

"Sure. Say about 1?"

Amanda nodded and headed on towards one of the conference rooms.

/

Hi Lee!" Dotty said as Lee stood and pulled out her chair at the quaint little French restaurant that was about twenty minutes from IFF.

"Hi Mrs. West, I mean Dotty."

They were seated in the back of the restaurant, in a place usually reserved for large parties or meetings. Although Lee had been careful about the location for lunch, knowing his luck and knowing Amanda, he chose this back room just in case.

"I'm so glad you called me today, I think I was just about ready to call you myself."

"Why?" Lee asked quietly.

"Well, Amanda hasn't been herself the last few days; I know you and she had some sort of argument…"

"Well, not an argument per say….but things are off with us right now and I need your help."

"My help?"

"Yeah, now I can't talk about what happened between us since she isn't here….but I want you to know that I'm in love with your daughter and…"

"Oh, Lee anyone with breath and even one eye, can see that."

"Well, I wanted to ask your daughter to…"

"Oh, Lee, are you asking for my permission?"

"Well, not exactly," he went on once he saw the look on her face, "though I do want your blessing."

"Well, you know you have that."

"The thing of the matter is, Amanda seems afraid to even…"

"I know, she's scared because of that ex-husband of hers."

"Yeah, something like that. So, I need your help."

"Yes, Lee?"

"How about we order lunch first?"

"Sure."

After order lunch, Lee turned to Dotty and said, "Here's the plan."

Dotty nodded and a wide smile spread across her face.

By 1:30 pm, Lee was fairly confident that in no sooner than a week, he'd have Amanda saying yes to his proposal.

/

"So, the great Scarecrow wants to ask you to marry him and you are afraid?" Francine asked incredulously as she and Amanda ate their lunch. Though, Amanda picked at her food, Francine wasn't having any such troubles as she ate her pasta and broiled chicken.

"Yes, Francine!"

"Amanda King, afraid? I've seen you go in places where you shouldn't, take on assignments that well, should've been for someone more seasoned, well more like me….it's just hard to believe."

"Thank you Francine, I think-and well, there's more to it than that, things that happened during my marriage, at the end of it, that has caused me this feeling."

"You are serious…but Amanda….you of all people must know that if Lee got to this step and stage in the game, he can handle it; whatever it is."

"Yeah, he can, it's me I'm worried about," Amanda said softly.

Francine started to press Amanda or started to tease her even, but something about Amanda's tone and look made her change her mind. She was serious and for once, Francine wasn't going to take a jab at her; she was going to do something better, be her friend.

Francine looked at Amanda for a moment then said, "But if Lee is for you, then you don't have anything to worry about. Even I have to admit, albeit reluctantly, you two make a hell of a team at the Agency so why do you think it would be any different with your marriage? And if there are bumps in the road along the way, you will figure them out together. I don't think you had that with your ex-husband. But you will with Lee."

Amanda thought about Francine's words and although she hated to admit it, she was making perfect sense. "Thanks Francine."

"Just think about it. Lee is too precious to let go of unless you really don't love him."

"Nah, I love him alright. He asked me that very thing today; rather I was in love with him."

"Well, then, you just have to work it out. You are too special for him to lose you."

"Ah, Francine," Amanda said as she laughed.

"Now don't go getting a big head on me Amanda King, rather Amanda Stetson, I hope soon." She said and nudged Amanda in the arm. "We better get going."

"Yeah, I should probably beat Lee back. I told him I had brought lunch. He's going to wonder why I went out."

"Oh, just tell him you needed a chocolate fix."

/

It was nearly 5 o'clock when Amanda and Lee finished wrapping up filing and paperwork. Amanda looked up at the clock, suddenly realizing what time it was. The day had been so busy she hadn't had much more time to think about what would happen at the end of the day. Sometimes after work, she would go by Lee's apartment and other times, he would come over her house for dinner. Today was Monday and usually on Monday's Lee came over for dinner; sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneously. She glanced over at where Lee was sitting, his head down as he looked at some papers. She started to open her mouth to ask him what he was doing tonight, but she thought better of it and simply said instead, "I didn't realize how late it was. I guess I'd better get going."

"Oh, Amanda wait, I'll walk out with you."

Lee finished the line he was looking at, then grabbed his jacket and walked over to Amanda and helped her on with her jacket and placed his hand just at the small of her back, just as he always did and the two of them walked out of the building towards Amanda's car.

Lee stood and held the door for Amanda, but he stilled her just before she sat down, so he could lean in and kiss her on the cheek. "See you later Amanda."

"Okay, Lee."

Lee closed the door and waited until she drove off before he went and got in his own car. Lee sat in his car a few minutes before he pulled off and headed home to his own apartment.