Chapter 10

Amanda awoke curled up beside Lee, but her neck was stiff and uncomfortable. She groaned when she rolled over and winced as she sat up. She glanced over at Lee who was still sleeping. He grunted in his sleep, shifted his body closer to her then settled himself again. She checked the clock and it was still early, so she quietly headed into the bathroom to brush her teeth. She tried sitting in the chair by the window to read while she waited for the rest of the family to wake up, but each time she moved her head, the pain would shoot into her shoulder. She dug into her purse, found the aspirin bottle and popped two into her hand. She swallowed them with a glass of water and as she put the bottle back in her purse she heard Lee mumble, "Amanda?"

"I'm here," she replied as she moved slowly back toward the bed.

"What time is it?" Lee mumbled again, his eyes open barely a crack.

"Just after seven," she answered as she brought her hand up to her neck, trying to massage it. She winced audibly when she touched a particularly sensitive spot.

Lee opened his eyes immediately, "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing, really. I just woke up with a kink in my neck," Amanda admitted as she sat on the edge of the bed. She didn't want to worry him so she did her best to downplay how uncomfortable she was.

Lee sat up and scratched his head as he yawned himself awake. "Let me take care of some morning business and I'll massage it for you," he stated as he stood and crossed to the bathroom. A few minutes later he emerged carrying a small bottle of lotion.

In the adjoining room, Dotty was awake as well. She looked at the boys, still sound asleep and headed into the bathroom. Once she brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair, she cinched her robe tightly around her and headed to the door separating the two rooms. She was about to knock when she heard Lee's voice.

Lee sat down on the bed beside her and said, "Show me where it is."

Amanda gestured at the tender area as she tried to tilt her head to the side. Lee poked and prodded the area slowly, Amanda cried out in response, "Oh, ow."

"I'm sorry, I'll try to be gentler this time," Lee apologized as he squeezed lotion onto his hand. He massaged the stiff muscle for a minute then declared, "You need to lay down so I can take care of this for you. I'll make it feel all better, I promise."

Dotty covered her mouth, embarrassed she may have interrupted a private moment. Her mouth dropped open when she heard Amanda say, "Oh, Lee, you can do that any time you want. That feels so good."

"I told you before, Amanda, I have magic fingers," Lee continued to massage the sore spot on her neck and shoulder. "You're so tight, we'll probably have to do this a few times today."

Beside her, Philip opened his eyes and yawned. "Grandma, what time is it?" he asked quietly.

Dotty leaned down and rubbed his head as she replied, "Just after seven. You're awake early."

Philip sat up, stretched and declared, "There's so much to do. I don't want to waste any time!"

Dotty moved away from the door and toward her suitcase where she pulled out a blouse and pair of white cotton capris. Philip took a few minutes in the bathroom then immediately headed toward the door separating the two rooms. "I'm gonna see if Mom and Lee are up," he stated.

Dotty threw her hands up and tried to stop him from opening the door. "I'm sure they're up, but maybe you should -"

"Oh good!" Philip declared as he pulled the door open, Dotty immediately covered her eyes. "Hey Mom, Lee!" he said as he stepped into the room. "What are we doing first today?"

Amanda looked up and smiled at her son as Lee said, "Morning, bud. You the first one up?"

Philip plopped himself down on the bed beside Amanda and said, "Nah, Grandma's up too. Jamie is still aslee-"

"No I'm not!" Jamie yelled out as he dove on the bed beside his brother.

Lee, who had been sitting precariously on the edge, was bounced off onto the floor with the force of Jamie's body hitting the mattress. Amanda tried to hide the giggle that bubbled up as she asked, "Lee, are you okay?"

Lee stood slowly and narrowed his eyes at Jamie as he stepped closer to him.

"I'm… I'm… I'm sorry, Lee, I was just playing," Jamie stuttered nervously when Lee stopped moving and just looked down on him. He was completely taken by surprise when Lee surged forward and pinned him down, tickling his ribs. Jamie tried to roll over and grab ahold of Philip unaware that Lee had reached for him as well, his fingers finding his collarbone.

Amanda stood quickly to avoid the fray now happening on the bed. Dotty appeared in the doorway, confused. "Amanda? What is going on?" she asked, but as soon as she saw Lee tickling the boys she immediately smiled. "Looks like everyone is getting a piece of Lee's action today," she stated cryptically.

Amanda looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Mother?" she asked, unsure what she meant by her comment.

Dotty just smiled, patted Amanda's arm and said, "Everyone starts the day off happy and Lee is the reason. Now, I'm getting hungry, let's see if we can break up these boys and head down to get some breakfast."

Amanda laughed when she realized the boys were attempting to pin down Lee and tickle him. However with each attempt, he easily swept their hand away with a self-defense move. After a few attempts, Philip stopped and stated seriously, "Hey, how do you do that?"

Jamie stopped trying to tickle Lee and looked at Philip, confused. Lee was smiling ear to ear, his dimples as deep as ever as he laughed and asked, "Do what?"

Philip waved his hand around, trying to mimick what Lee was doing, "You know, that thing. Deflecting us."

Lee straightened up to his full height as he pulled his T shirt down and smoothed it out. "It's self-defense. You use your opponent's momentum against them. Tell you what, when we get back, I'll set up some gym time and teach you boys a few things," Lee offered. He looked at Amanda then quickly added, "if your Mom says that's all right." Amanda blinked slowly and nodded, earning a quick hug from both Philip and Jamie.

"Now that we're all awake, how about you boys get ready and we can head downstairs for some breakfast so we start the rest of our day," Amanda gently steered the boys to the other hotel room to change.

The boys continued moving forward as Lee announced, "I'm going to shower." Amanda almost immediately heard the bathroom door click closed.

Dotty put her hand on Amanda's arm and commented, "Amanda, if you and Lee need more time alone, I can bring the boys down for breakfast and meet you in say, an hour?"

Amanda looked at her mother quizzically and said, "No, Mother, that's not necessary. Lee will be out in just a few minutes."

Dotty simply waved her hand and said, "Well, if there is anything you want to finish…" She trailed off as she walked through the doorway. Amanda heard her state, "Boys, don't forget there are other people in this hotel."

Amanda raised an eyebrow and stepped into the room where her boys, only half dressed, were now having a pillow fight. "Boys!" she snapped, the two pillows immediately hitting the floor. They scrambled to finish dressing when Amanda crossed her arms and waited. Once she was satisfied they were ready, she turned and stepped back through the doorway. She inadvertantly gasped when she saw Lee step out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel, slung low on his hips. "Lee!" she whispered loudly, and glanced over her shoulder to ensure no one else had followed her.

"What? I forgot my clothes," he laughed as he collected a pair of shorts, a polo shirt and a pair of boxer shorts. He continued to laugh even after the bathroom door closed behind him.