Kelly's Journey Continues
Chapter 11
Amanda sat on the couch wondering what Lee wanted to talk about. But she didn't know how she was going to bring up the doctor visit she had this morning that was supposed to be for her mother.
But Mother tricked me into getting that checkup, she thought. Shaking her head then she muttered aloud, "Don't be like that. It was only because you canceled the last three appointments and she was worried about you."
The boys came home from school just as Lee was coming downstairs. He stated softly, "Hey, Guys. Kelly's upstairs with the flu and she's resting so let's keep it down, okay? How did it go today?"
Phillip smiled and remarked, "Totally awsome! For me at least."
Jamie shook his head commenting to Lee, "He thinks he's gonna be real cool now because-"
Phillip shot him a look and retorted, "C'mon! I haven't even showed Mom yet, Doofus!"
Amanda answered, "Phillip, that's enough! Now, what do you want to show me?"
Phillip went in and kissing Amanda gave her a form and responded, "Just this."
As Amanda saw, it was a form for Driver's Ed classes beginning soon.
She looked it over and then glanced at Phillip who was naturally excited.
Lee came in the room with Jamie and asked, "What is it?"
Amanda sighed passing the form to Lee remarking, "I knew this day was coming but I didn't think it would be this soon, you know?"
As Lee looked at the form he nodded thinking, Ah, yes. A young boy's rite of passage. He remembered his when the Colonel took him out. After the first day, the Colonel handed him off to someone else. The two were like oil and water even worse at the time so it naturally didn't go well.
But Lee thought, This is Phillip. It should be fine.
He smiled and patted Phillip's shoulder commenting, "Okay. If you want, when the time comes I'll be glad to take you out."
Phillip pumped his fist remarking excitedly, "All right! You and me in the 'Vette! I can't wait!"
But Lee and Amanda looked at him and then each other and burst out laughing!
Phillip bewilderedly queried, "What? I'm serious. I can do this."
Recovering slightly Lee wiped his eyes and answered, "Oh, we know you can. But not with my car. That's off-limits to you guys and Kelly when she reaches that age."
Jamie came over and poked Phillip's shoulder stating jokingly, "Y-Yeah. Can you see Lee in old age and he's in a home and he's trying to get in and out of that car?"
As the boys laughed together Lee nodded and narrowing his eyes responded, "Oh yeah, Ace? Well then, I don't have to take you either."
Amanda chimed in with, "Sure. He won't have to because I'll take you in my car."
The room became strangely silent and then Lee clearing his throat stated, "Um. Sweetie, that's great that you wanna help him but-"
Amanda shrugged and asked, "Why shouldn't I? I've been there through all of his first moments. His first tooth, his first word, his first bike. Even his potty training-"
Phillip groaned diving his head into the back of the couch commenting anguishedly, "Aww, Mom! Stop, please?"
Lee watching the lad be embarrassed chuckled and shaking his head responded, "O-Okay. But that's your thing with him. But this driving. It's a dad's role and-"
He stopped himself as they all stared at him suddenly and he mentally kicked himself thinking, Boy. I sure know how to say the wrong thing here!
Lee swallowed and answered contritely, "I'm sorry, Guys. What I meant was-"
Phillip then got up slowly from the couch and went to Lee's side remarking, "It-It's okay, Lee. I get it. And even though it was weird with you and Dad at times, I don't think he would've minded if you did this with me or Jamie. We think it'd be great."
Lee saw the sincerity from both boys and nodded finally commenting, "Okay then, Pal. I'd be honored."
They hugged and Amanda feeling tears come to her eyes replied softly, "That's beautiful, Sweetheart. I know your dad would be real proud of you. Now, about using my car-"
Phillip went to sit by her and stated slowly, "Well, Mom. It's a great car. For kids Kelly's age. But for Jamie and me, it's not...um-"
Amanda realized what he was trying to get across to her and nodded responding, "Ahh, I see. It's not a cool car, right?"
Phillip kissed her and commented, "I knew you'd understand."
Looking at Lee he queried, "So what kind of car can I get?"
Lee put up his hand and answered, "Whoa, Chief. You can't afford one and we're not buying you one, either. However, I think your mom would agree with me on this idea. How about you get yourself a summer job save some money including your allowance, and when the time comes we'll go halves with you on a used car, okay?"
Phillip shook his head replying, "But that'll take forever, Lee."
Lee stated, "No. Not if you do that and other odd jobs here in the neighborhood, too."
Amanda commented, "Lee's right, Honey. I didn't get my first one until I was going to college. I know it won't be easy but we know you can do it, all right? Just be patient."
Phillip sighed and nodded responding, "Okay."
Lee answered, "All right. If that's all why don't you guys get started on your homework, huh?"
The boys grumbled but went upstairs.
Joining Amanda on the couch finally Lee replied, "Now that the boys are gone, how about you telling me what's going on with you? Something's different here and I just wanna make sure everything's okay, hmm?"
Amanda sighed thinking, The moment of truth.
She answered slowly, "Okay. The appointment with Mother this morning-"
The phone rang and Amanda put up a finger stating, "Just a second."
She answered it with, "Hello?"
Continuing she responded, "Oh, hi. Yes. Uh-huh."
As she listened she got up and went to the French doors to look out and nodded commenting, "I see. And you're absolutely sure on this? Okay. Well, no. I thought about it, but it's been a long time and I wasn't having the usual symptoms. I actually thought it was just stress and all, you know?"
She then sighed and nodded answering, "Okay, then. Thanks for getting back to me. All right, I will. I'll call to set up another appointment soon. Bye, bye."
Hanging up she saw Lee's face as she came back to the couch and sitting down replied, "For starters, I'm okay. The appointment for Mother this morning was actually for me because Mother tricked me into going. I had canceled the last three times I was supposed to go, and-"
Lee responded concernedly, "Well, you should've gone to at least one of them. I don't want anything to happen to you, okay?"
Amanda kissed him and commented softly, "Thank you, Sweetheart. Now. Before I tell you what's going on, I want to share something with you that happened when Joe and I were first having our problems."
Lee nodded stating, "Okay. Did he do some other work besides the EAO stuff?"
Amanda shook her head and answered, "No, but when he was first offered the job we discussed it and he wanted us to travel with him. You already know that we didn't go with him but when he came back from Estoccia the first time he said he wanted to talk. I just thought he was ready to leave that and go back to the firm that he worked for."
Amanda swallowed as she continued, "We took a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach. I guess I was full of romantic notions at the time thinking he'd stay home and we'd get past this. Instead, what he wanted to talk about was us going back with him. We argued and I went for a walk to cool off. Well, I got caught in a shower and had to wait it out down the beach with other people. When I got back Joe made a fire and we apologized to one another and finished the bottle of wine we started at dinner. We went home Sunday and he left the next day."
Lee nodded and she went on by replying, "So, a few weeks later Joe wrote to us saying he was on his way to Haiti but he'd call soon to let us know when he'd be coming home to visit. That's when I learned I was pregnant again. Mother wanted me to tell Joe but I didn't think it would matter since he already had two terrific sons that he wasn't home for-"
Lee was surprised and answered, "You mean you- you didn't tell him at all? Why not? He had a right to know, didn't he?"
Amanda shook her head at the memory and remarked cooly, "Look. He said he loved us but then he walks away from a good job and a good family? I told you a while back that the boys needed a stable place and I provided that, okay? Who's side are you on, anyway?"
Lee put up a hand and answered gently, "Hey. I'm always with you, all right? However, even with the poor judgement he used concerning his family, he still should have been told this. And I'm just wondering why you never brought this up with me before."
Amanda sighed and commented, " I wasn't trying to hide anything from you. It was just a painful part of my life that I didn't want to talk about. I-I had a miscarriage so the whole point is moot. Besides, in all the background checks you and the Agency did on me I'm surprised it never showed up."
Lee shrugged and responded, "The Agency isn't always perfect. Things have fallen through the cracks sometimes. Anyway Honey, I'm sorry you went through all that. I really am. Now, what were you going to tell me?"
Amanda swallowed hard and remarked, "Well, that phone call that came a little while ago? That was Dr. Goodman's office. I'm-I'm pregnant and I didn't know how to tell you because we never talked about having any children, with the three we already have. Mother told me earlier that Carrie is also pregnant and I don't know how the boys will take it."
Sighing finally she replied, "Okay. I've talked long enough. I'd like to know what you're thinking. Good or bad, we should get everything out. Don't you agree?"
Lee got up slowly and walked around looking at different things and then going to the kitchen leaned against the sink and stated matter-of-factly as he nodded, " Sure. All right. It's a surprise. It's great but it'll take time to get used to. What I'm also thinking is that we should sell the house."
Amanda responded querying, "Sell? Why don't we just add on? I love this house."
Lee answered sighing, "I-I know you do. But it's not really big enough for our now growing family. You've changed everything already. There's nothing left to remodel. What's next, the garage?"
Amanda stood up and went to him commenting, "If I want to, sure. What do you have against this house?"
Lee remarked, "It's fine, Sweetie. But it's yours with Joe. The house, the kids, the memories."
Seeing Amanda's face cloud over he took her hands and kissed them answering softly, "I love you and the boys, but I've gotta be honest here. We need something new that's ours, okay? And I'm not trying to hurt you but I can see that I have. All right. Let's table this for now. I'm gonna check on Kelly and then go for a drive. I know you want time with the boys to tell them about Carrie anyway. Would you like me to pick up anything for dinner on the way back?"
Amanda shook her head replying, "No thank you. Mother has lasagna made already."
Lee nodded and went upstairs trying to wrap his head around Amanda's news, while Amanda wondered if Lee was really all right with things after all...
TBC
