Loves Journey: Chapter 25

Train

Amanda and Lee chose their favorite Mexican restaurant as the caterer for the reception, and they chose several different kinds of Mexican dishes. Guests were served savory main course meats dishes of chicken and beef, rice and warm fresh tortillas. An array of side dishes of enchiladas, beans, and spicy rice was served. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, dessert consisted of traditional wedding cookies made with almonds and walnuts along with Lee's favorite cake, a poppy seed cake which would be served later near the end of the reception.

After dinner a few more people came up to give speeches which included Philip and Jamie; Paul, and Harry. From his seat, Joe watched and listened as each person walked up to the table and used a microphone and spoke words of encouragement to Amanda and Lee. Joe listened intently as a gentleman named Harry came up and gave an excellent speech while Amanda looked at Lee. "Lee told me once before I'd even met Amanda that he would follow Amanda blind in a snowstorm. Lee doesn't trust very easily, so I knew right then and there that he'd met the woman for him." Harry continued his voice full of pride.

When Harry sat done, Joe waited momentarily to see if anyone else was going to stand up. When no one got up, Joe stood and started towards the front where the microphone was. He was almost there when his eyes fell upon Amanda's face that was turned towards Lee, lovingly gazing at her new husband. She once looked at me with such loving eyes. Now, all that love is turned towards him! Joe stopped dead in his tracks, turned and practically sprinted towards the lounge with Karyn right on his heels.

"Now, what was that all about?" Lee asked Amanda.

"I don't know," Amanda replied.

"What is it with him?" Lee spat out. Joe King. Lee thought to himself, but said out loud instead, "Amanda, I'm really starting to wonder how things are going to be with your ex."

"Pal, too late to squirm your way out of marrying me now," Amanda said holding up her wedding ring, a smile on her face.

Lee lifted her hand up to his lips and lightly grazed her knuckles with his lips. "Never, my love. It's Joe I'm trying to figure a way around."

"Lee, just give him some time. I think he'll come around."

"He better come around, or I make no promises about how I respond back to his antics."

"Lee, darling, we can't worry about Joe and how he behaves," Amanda said as she leaned in towards Lee, wrapping her arms around him. "We can only do our best to be nice and let Joe respond however he chooses. In the end, the boys can make up their own minds about him. Now come here, when's the last time you kissed me?"

"Oh, I don't know, several minutes ago," Lee replied moving in closer to Amanda and kissing her on the lips.

When they heard the clinking of glasses, Amanda pulled Lee closer deepening the kiss.

When they pulled apart, Lee leaned his head against Amanda's cheek and breathed in her scent, reveling in everything that was Amanda.

Lounge

"You really aren't happy about your ex-wife getting married, are you?" Karyn asked Joe when they were alone in the lounge.

"No, I'm not," Joe responded back honestly.

"He seems like a nice man!"

"From what I know about him, he is nice, but I can't explain it," Joe said running his fingers through his hair. "I was all set to say something nice, especially, after I heard Lee's friend and mentor talking about them, but after I saw how her face lit up while she was looking at him, I couldn't go through with it."

"If you don't mind my asking, why did you and your ex-wife get a divorce anyway?"

"I don't mind you asking, but it's a long story."

"Well, I've got time," Karyn replied.

"Maybe some other time," Joe answered back. "Sorry."

"That's okay."

"Speaking of stories, what's the deal with the father of your child?" Immediately, Joe regretted his choice of words. "I'm sorry it's none of my business."

"No reason to be sorry," Karyn answered, shrugging her shoulders. "Not a long story at all. Remember, I told you he was no longer in the picture."

"Yeah, but what happened?" Joe asked hesitantly.

"Well, we dated for a few months, and we used protection, condoms mostly; one must've broken in the heat of the moment," Karyn explained as she spread her hands out to show her belly. "and here I am several months later."

"And the father?"

"Too much for him to handle, I guess. After I told him about the baby, he left, and I haven't seen or heard from him since."

Joe was silent to that. How could he just leave her like that when she's about to have his baby? But didn't you do almost the same thing? Joe thought to himself. You left Amanda when the boys were little, hell, Jamie was barely even out of diapers.

"So, is that why you didn't go to the wedding?" Karyn asked seeing the look upon Joe's face.

"What?" Joe asked snapping out of his thoughts to hear what Karyn was saying.

"You didn't go to your ex-wife's wedding ceremony because you are still in love with her and you're jealous as hell of her new spouse?"

"Something like that I suppose," Joe said solemnly as he stood up. "How about something to drink? I can't remember what is considered safe, juice? Soda? Or do you want me to see if there is some milk?"

"I can have soda in small doses, but an orange juice would be nice. Thanks." Karyn answered back.

Reception Car

Lee and Amanda danced again this time to "The Search is Over" by Journey. Afterward, the photographer took pictures of the wedding party while the guests listened to music and mingled. Once the main photos were taken, the photographer moved around the cars and captured an array of pictures. Amanda and Lee mingled amongst their guests, hand in hand. Lee laughed as Jamie jumped up and got out of his seat and ran away from a little girl that attempted to sit by him on his seat and put her arm around him. Amanda smiled too, as her eyes turned to see what had caught her husband's attention.

"Who is that?" Lee asked.

"Oh, that's little, well not so little now, Maryann," Amanda answered. "She's been after Jamie since the first grade. Her mom is Kimberly; she's over there, we've done a lot of work together at the PTA."

"Kimberly? That name sounds familiar."

"She's the one that threw her cake at Carol," Amanda whispered.

"Oh! That explains it."

Amanda raised her eyebrows.

"The daughter, real fireball, must take after her mother, I see."

"Lee Stetson!"

Lee laughed.

"Amanda!" Dotty said as she walked over towards them.

"Yes, Mother?"

"What is going on with that ex-husband of yours?"

"What are you—" Amanda began, but her mother cut her off.

"What was that all about, him walking up to say something and then leaving?"

"I—"

"And who is that woman with him?"

Lee and Amanda both laughed at Dotty.

"Mother, can you give me a chance to answer you?"

"Sure, go right ahead," Dotty answered innocently.

"Well, I don't know what that was all about; with Joe leaving and as far as the woman with him. She is just someone he met at the coffee shop. He saw her on the way here, and she was stranded."

Dotty opened her mouth to say something, closed it and then said, "Just like him, help everyone else in the world but not take time out for—" she stopped as she saw Philip walk up.

"Mom, can I go get something to drink from the lounge?" Philip asked.

"Of course, Dear!" Amanda replied.

"That's what I was saying Dotty!" Lee said once Philip had left them.

"So, Mother," Amanda decided to change the subject, "are you enjoying yourself? You and Mr. Hinkerman seem to be getting along well."

"Oh yeah, we are getting along pretty well. He just went to get us some drinks."

Amanda and Lee smiled at one another as they listened to Dotty go on and on about Mr. Hinkerman.