No More Games

Chapter Twenty Five

Dotty put the lunch away shaking her head. Doesn't her daughter realize they were trying to help her come back to her life? She knew Amanda had been through hell, but that didn't mean she had to be downright nasty to them.

She went upstairs and knocked on Amanda's door, hoping she would at least be civil to her own mother."Amanda? Dear, I want to talk to you. May I come in? "

Amanda said in a clear tone slowly, "I'll be down soon, Mother. I-I have to go find Lee."

Dotty couldn't believe what she was hearing! Amanda's speech had come back! Maybe Lee Stetson finally got through to her. It had to be some sort of shock she experienced. It didn't matter. She was happy to have Amanda back home in any capacity.

She said," You um.. you're all right, aren't you darling? "

Amanda came to the door but she didn't open it. "Yes, Mother. And I'm so sorry for what I said and the way I've treated you, but I really have to get ready to go. We'll talk later. If the boys get home from school before I return, please ask them to stay here okay?"

Dotty swallowed,"Of course dear. I love you."

Amanda nodded with tears in her eyes. "I love you too."

Dotty turned and headed back downstairs happily. Things would be better around here, thanks to a very special young man from IFF.

A little while later, Amanda came down the stairs slowly as walking was still difficult for her and would be for a while yet. God knows when she'd be able to drive, but therapy could only make her stronger.

Dotty was on the family room couch and turned to see her daughter and said, "You look wonderful, dear. May I take you to find Lee? I don't mind-."

Amanda shook her head. "No thank you. He kicked some sense into me and I have to do this alone. I called a cab. I shouldn't be too long but don't worry if I'm not back right away."

Dotty came over and said, "I was ready to spank you earlier young lady, but now all I want to to is hold you. May I? "

Amanda nodded happily and the two women held fast to one another and then they heard the cab honking.

Amanda and Dotty went to the door and Dotty opened it saying to the driver, "She'll be there in a minute. "

As she watched Amanda walk slowly to the cab and get in, she looked up and said, "Carl, our little girl is amazing, isn't she? "

Meanwhile, the cab pulled Amanda up to the University Athletic Club, where she knew Lee would be right now. He had a habit of going there when he needed to work through his issues and she knew she put him through the wringer this time!

She paid the driver who said, "Would you like me to wait? "

Amanda considered her options carefully. If Lee wasn't ready to see her, she would have to accept that and give him his space. But the mere fact that she showed up here would only tell him that she listened to him back at the house and was willing to change things for the better between them.

She decided to go with the latter and said to the driver, "No thank you. I'll be fine. "

The driver left and Amanda entered the club and headed for the gym area and a man said, "Ma'am, the women's area is the other direction. "

Amanda said, "Well, I have a friend here who's working out in the gym. I just want to talk to him for a moment."

The man said, "Well, I wouldn't go back there right now if I were you. There's a guy beating on the punching bag really bad. He scared a few other guys out of there. He's got issues apparently. It's really not safe."

Amanda nodded."Yep, that's my friend. Don't worry. I'm safe with him. "

The man shook his head saying, "I'm glad you're not the one he's mad at. Geez!"

He walked away and Amanda giggled. If he only knew! Stepping into the gym she saw a very frustrated Lee punching the daylights out of the bag! Shaking her head, she called out, "Lee! Lee!"

Still, he didn't hear her. She walked over near him but out of the way of the bag and yelled, "Lee!"

Startled, he turned and saw Amanda and was immediately knocked to the floor by the bag! "Umph!"

All Amanda could do was laugh! She said, "Are.. are you all right?!"

Lee slowly got up and groaned! "N-Never better!"

Amanda said slowly, "Could we talk maybe? "

TBC