Maladjusted
Chapter 25
The mood was somber as Lee, Amanda and Dotty entered the house that afternoon.
Dotty took Amanda's bag and put it on the stairs stating, "I'll make us some tea, Darling. Why don't you relax on the sofa, hmm?"
But Amanda shook her head as she sighed commenting, "I've done enough relaxing, Mother. Think I'll go out and check the garden..."
Without another word, she immediately went out the back door slamming it!
Lee watched her go and then turning to Dotty threw up his hands helplessly remarking, "See what I mean?! What am I supposed to do with that?"
Dotty nodded and patting his arm as she went by him to the kitchen answered slowly, "I know, Dear. But you heard the doctor. She's been through a very traumatic experience. We have to be patient with her-"
Lee nodded frustratingly running his hands through his hair and responding, "Yeah, I know. And I am trying, but the way she is right now? I dunno..."
He sighed coming over to watch Dotty put the tea on and shook his head replying, "But the boys? They'll be home soon and she hasn't said when she wants to talk to them about it. Quite frankly, I'm worried how she's gonna be around them. They're scared enough already and-"
Amanda came in and noting the sudden silence between her mother and husband asked, "What? What were you two talking about?"
Dotty shook her head as she poured the tea into a cup answering, "Nothing, Sweetheart. Would you like your tea now?"
Amanda groaned and commented tiredly, "No thank you, Mother. What are you keeping from me?"
Dotty was about to respond but Lee cut in with, "Nothing, Honey. But I think maybe we should talk to the boys when they come home about the situation so we can deal with it and move on-"
Amanda swallowed hard and with a steely glance to her husband queried bitterly, "Oh, really?! Well, let me tell you something, Buster! I know I haven't been the most pleasant person to be around lately. But how would you feel if you were in my place, huh? One minute, you think you have a bad case of the flu. Next thing you know, you're in a hospital where they're telling you you have to get rid of a pregnancy that you didn't even know you had?! And now here I am. Where I'm left with nothing in my body! And you have the nerve to stand there and tell me when and how we are going to deal with this?! How dare you!"
Dotty put up a hand commenting, "Amanda-"
Amanda with tears in her eyes shook her head and rushed past them going to the landing to pick up her bag and turning back to Lee and Dotty as she gulped and remarked stiffly, "No! I'm going upstairs to lie down. When the boys come home, they need to do their homework. But I'm their mother and I will decide when to discuss this with them! Period!"
She went upstairs slowly and closed the bedroom door.
Lee swallowed hard and stated to Dotty, "Whew. Guess she told me a thing or two, huh?"
Dotty sighed and answered, "Yes, well... She needs to process this on her own timetable, Dear..."
The boys at that moment came in and seeing Lee and Dotty greeted them and asked, "Can we go up and see Mom?"
Dotty remarked, "Not just yet, Fellas. She's laying down for a bit. C'mon. Let's get you a snack and then start on your homework..."
TBC