Joe glared at Jamie and didn't respond to his question. Before Amanda had the chance to intervene Phillip quickly approached his father, "I think that you should answer the question. Lee is an important part of Mom's life; why shouldn't we get to know him?"

"Phillip, I'm having an adult conversation with your mother, I want you and Jamie to go wash up for dinner."

"We're not going." Phillip positioned himself between his parents and continued to address Joe. "When we got sent upstairs last night Mom wasn't here when we came back."

"It's okay, Sweetie, I'm not going anyplace," Amanda reassured Phillip as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

Stepping around Phillip, Joe challenged Amanda, "Do you always tolerate disobedience from them? When I was their age I did exactly what my father told me to do; no questions asked."

"Maybe that's because you knew your father…we hardly know you," Jamie countered. "We obey Mom and Grandma because we love and respect them. I hoped that you decided not to go back to Africa because you wanted to start being a dad to us."

"It doesn't matter where I am; I've always been your dad," Joe replied without looking either boy in the eye.

"No, Joe, you're their father but I'm sorry to say that you've never been a dad to them," Amanda said in a broken voice.

"We aren't the little boys that you walked out on; we know the difference between a father and a dad." Jamie eyed his father with a mixture of anger and sadness.

"You really don't understand; I did what I thought was best for all concerned. We would all still be a family if your mother had agreed to go to Africa with me. The people there desperately needed my help…how could I turn my back on the chance to do such important work?"

"Your sons needed you here yet you were able to turn your back on them and me." Amanda spoke in a measured voice but Joe was struck by the sadness he saw in her eyes.

"The boys had you here: I knew they were in good hands. Heaven knows, you never needed me... you're nothing like my mother." Joe sagged onto a chair and Amanda again sat down opposite him.

"What does your mother have to do with our situation," Amanda questioned although she began to suspect she knew the answer.

"My mother rarely makes a move without my father's approval but you…you're full of your own ideas. I never know what to expect from you…how am I supposed to know what you're thinking…or feeling?"

"You could have asked her and then really listened to her answers," Jamie interrupted as he seated himself next to his mother. Phillip hung back momentarily but then sat down opposite his brother."

"I listen; an attorney has to be a good listener," Joe defended. He nervously moved his hands on the tabletop in front of him as if he were arranging imaginary papers.

"You hear our words but I don't think you're really listening to us. We just met Lee this morning but he-"

"I don't want to discuss him," Joe angrily interrupted Jamie. "That man shouldn't be a part of your life; I won't allow him to take my place."

"Lee isn't trying to take your place; he actually tried to defend the choices you've made in the past. He thinks we should give you a chance to be our dad," Phillip asserted.

"He said that," Joe queried warily.

"Yes, we were having an interesting conversation until Grandma broke it up."

"I knew she'd be able to see through him…you boys should listen to what your grandmother has to say about Lee."

"We plan to," Phillip said smugly, "they're having dinner together right now; getting to know each other one on one." Amanda struggled not to laugh at the appalled expression on Joe's face. "Grandma was impressed by him once she looked past the bad stuff you said about him."

"I checked him out to protect all of you from him…you hardly know him."

"Of course, we don't know him well; we just met him this morning. Lee is interested in getting to know us and he was telling us all about his life." Joe raised an eyebrow as Jamie finished speaking.

"Don't go there, Joe," Amanda warned. I don't understand why he and Mother both assumed that Lee would share the more colorful aspects of his past with the boys. "Lee was having an open and honest conversation with the boys about life choices…you might try to do likewise. If you want to have a good relationship with them you are going to have to start working on it now; the ball is in your court."

"I realize that I've made some mistakes." Joe shifted awkwardly in his chair and ran a finger around the rim of the empty glass in front of him. "You've all given me a lot to think about, but for now I'd like us to simply spend a pleasant evening together. Boys, why don't we go see if there's some sports on TV that we can watch while your mom finishes making dinner?"

"We were planning to help Mom with dinner since Grandma isn't home to help her."

"Fellas, I've already set the table so you can relax with your dad now. Since neither of you set the table you can both do the dishes after we eat."

"Mom, we already know how to do that stuff; we want to start learning to cook. Lee said that he was younger than we are now when he started to learn to cook; besides you and Grandma deserve more help around here," Jamie concluded with a shy smile.

"I'd be crazy to say no…but I think I'll start you off with just the basics." Amanda reached across the table and ruffled Jamie's hair. "Joe, you can feel free to watch television in the family room until dinner is ready."

"No thanks, I came to spend time with my family not watch television." Amanda hoped that she and the boys had gotten through to Joe but the expression on his face was unreadable.