Chapter 11
Later, after Amanda had been cleaned up and settled in her room, a surprise visitor tapped on the door. Amanda looked up from watching Victoria nurse at her breast and said, "Come in."
Lee opened the door and stuck his head inside. He asked, "May I come in?"
Amanda smiled and said, "Lee, what a nice surprise. Please come in. I didn't expect to see you here."
Lee stepped inside and closed the door. Lee looked at Amanda holding the baby and was struck by the perfection of the scene, the very rightness of it. His chest tingled and grew tight, as he caught his breath.
"I was just released. I heard that you were here and had had your baby," he said, when he could breathe normally again, but he didn't move any further into the room.
When he hesitated and continued to hover near the door, she had to coax him. "It's okay. Come closer. We won't bite," she said and smiled. When he moved to stand next to the bed, she said, "Lee Stetson, may I present to you, my daughter, Victoria West."
Lee stood motionless; his head cocked slightly to one side and took in the exquisite beauty of the scene. He wondered for a second what she would look like lying there nursing a child they had made with their love. He blinked and shook his head, before he said, "Oh, Amanda. She's beautiful. Not surprising, since she is the spitting image of her mother."
She took in that his arm was in a sling and he moved somewhat gingerly. She gestured to the chair beside the bed and said, "Forgive my horrible manners. Would you like to sit down? You look like you are in a lot of pain."
When he was seated and looked a bit more comfortable, Amanda said, "I gave up skulking around the hospital months ago. Apparently you haven't. What are you in for this time?"
Lee smiled at this and said, "I was doing a documentary film about a radical militant group called New Utopia in the backwoods of Virginia. The leader decided to take me as a captive, string me up by the wrists and rough me up a bit." He indicated his sling. "Dislocated shoulder and three broken ribs. At least this time I didn't puncture a lung. I got some great footage and it will probably win an independent film award." He paused. "But enough about me. What about you? How's your writing going? Has your third book been released?"
"It's due to be released sometime after Thanksgiving. I'm doing rewrites and contract negotiations at the moment. I'm working on a contract for three more books and a story outline for my fourth book, but it doesn't have a title yet," she answered.
"How about school? Did you graduate? Have you found a job yet?" he asked.
"Well, I graduated suma cum laude with a Master's degree in May and an expertise in the writings of L. Frank Baum, specifically the Oz books. By then I was seven months along and had a hard time fitting into my graduation gown. I start in September at Marymount University, Arlington as an adjunct in the Arts & Sciences Department teaching American Literature, colonial times to present. I have to have my syllabus in by August 1st. If I do well, I have a shot at a permanent position," Amanda rambled.
"That's good. I'll bet your mother is very proud of you," Lee said.
"She really is. I have her to thank. She kept the boys occupied and out of my hair while I finished my thesis, studied for finals and worked on my book. Since my premature labor scare, she has been my resident watchdog," Amanda said.
Just then there was a tap at the door. "Come in," Amanda called.
Dotty came in and closed the door. She stopped when she saw Lee sitting in the chair next to the bed. "Hello, Mr. Stetson. I didn't expect to see you here. What a pleasant surprise," Dotty said her voice somewhat frosty.
"Hello, Mrs. West," said Lee, not missing a beat. "I didn't expect to be here either. I was here to get fixed up after a minor accident and heard that Amanda was here. I just had to see her and find out how she was doing. It seems that she has accomplished quite a lot in the past few months. You should be very proud of her," he said. While he was talking, he glanced at Amanda and smiled. He could see the question in her eyes, If you call that a minor accident, I wonder what a major one is?
"Oh, I am proud of my daughter, Mr. Stetson. Very proud," said Dotty, a note of warning in her voice. "What do you think of our newest little one?" she asked, as she laid a covered bowl on the bed tray. At Amanda's questioning glance, she said, "Just some chicken soup I whipped up. Good for what ails you."
"She's beautiful. She looks just like her mother," Lee said and glanced at his watch. "I'm sorry, but I have a meeting with my supervising producer, but I want to see you again, Amanda." He stood up with a grimace, his ribs still paining him despite a powerful dose of painkillers, to offer her a business card. "This is my office number at IFF. I'd give you the number at my apartment, but I'm almost never there. I'm required to check my messages three times a day, but my answering service can reach me anytime day or night." For a moment brown eyes met hazel once again and Lee planted the gentlest of kisses on her forehead. "I really do want to see you again, but I want the choice to be yours, when you are ready," he whispered, his softly spoken words for her ears alone. Then, he went out and closed the door softly behind him.
"What did he whisper to you just now?" Dotty asked.
Amanda's smile gave nothing away, as she said, "If he whispered it to me, he obviously meant for only me to hear it."
Dotty harrumphed. "He's obviously very taken with you. On a scale of 1 - 10, he's definitely an 11... or maybe a 12," she said, her forefinger tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Now Mother, I know that look. I've only been separated from Dean for a few months and divorced from him for a few days. On top of that I just had a baby, I'm starting a new job and I have a new book coming out. The timing couldn't be worse."
"Well, the ball is in your court, Amanda. The next move is yours. What are you going to do?" Dotty asked.
Amanda looked down at her beautiful baby daughter, tummy full, she was now sound asleep, a bit of milk dribbling from the corner of her mouth. She put the baby over her shoulder and cuddled her close to her neck. Then as she patted and rubbed the baby's back, she sighed and said, "At the moment I haven't the foggiest idea, but give me a little while to let me get my feet under me and my head on straight again. Then we'll see." Amanda smiled as Victoria let out a soft burp and snuggled closer to her neck.
