San Angelo With A Twist

Chapter 29

After the boys were settled in for the night and Dotty had gone upstairs for her bath, Lee and Amanda talked on the couch in the family room.

Amanda stated, "You were gone for a little while after I got here. Is it anything I need to worry about?"

Lee sighed. "No. I went to see Billy to tell him of our news. I believe his words to me were along the lines of, "It's about time."

Amanda nodded and looked at him carefully sensing a hesitation from him. "And? What else?"

Lee said slowly as he looked back at her gauging a reaction, "Uh well, I told Francine-"

Amanda nodded again and shrugged. "Oh, well of course you should tell her. You've been friends for a long time-"

Lee took her hand. "Amanda. We were over long before I met you-"

Amanda shook her head and said, "I know that. I'm not upset or anything, really. Besides, I'd heard things around the office. It's okay."

Lee winced. "I'm sorry. We weren't in a regular relationship, per se. It was just one-"

Amanda joined him by finishing with, "Of those things. Oh, Lee. We all work together and you were right to talk to her because it would have made things uncomfortable for the three of us if you hadn't."

Lee nodded. "Billy suggested it. Guess he thought the same thing you're thinking now." Then looking at her concernedly he stated, "Hey. You all right?"

Amanda shrugged, "Sure. But we're still finding things out about one another except I know about most of your women because I've either met them or like Francine, worked with them. But I'm really fine. Now, I'm gonna tell Joe about this when we're alone but you and I can still tell the boys when he leaves. Is that okay?"

Lee nodded,"Yeah, that's fine."

Looking at his watch he then said, "Well, I'd better go. Early day tomorrow. Listen, if you need help with Phillip let me know, all right? When does he have to go see the doctor?"

Amanda sighed. "I'm gonna call and see after this week. He's really anxious to get up already, but I told him we aren't rushing it. That it needs time to heal. By the way, Mother and I were laughing earlier because Jamie thought he could stay home and do his homework just like his brother. Then Mother told him how she could use some help around here when I'm working. That shut him down completely. You never saw a more terrified little boy. He then agreed to stay in school."

Lee chuckled and shook his head stating, "Poor kid. Feeling left out, huh?"

Amanda shrugged, "He's sensing the attention we're giving Phillip and wants the same thing."

Lee shrugged. "Well, maybe he and Joe can do something while he's here. I know I've got time to develop a relationship with both boys so I can wait."

Amanda shrugged stating, "You can still come by and see them. They're getting more comfortable with you."

Getting up from the couch, they went out to Lee's car and he kissed her stating, "See you tomorrow."

Amanda watched him pull out and waved as he drove away. Walking back to the house and going inside, she shook her head wondering how she got so lucky.

Later that night, Jamie came into Amanda's room to wake her. He shook her saying, "Mom, Phillip's gotta go and I can't get him up by myself."

Amanda got her robe and going quietly into Dotty's room, got the crutches and between her and Jamie, got Phillip to the bathroom. Dotty came out a few minutes later yawning and asked, "Everything all right, Dear?"

Amanda nodded, "Yes, Mother. I'm sorry we woke you but it's fine-"

Phillip groaned. "Mom? Does everybody have to watch?"

Amanda blushed and pulled Jamie out and closed the door saying, "We'll be right out here, Sweetie."

Jamie stated, "I gotta go, too."

Amanda shook her head. "Then you use my bathroom. Go."

Dotty smiled. "Well, at least Phillip's able to get out a little bit. Did they tell you about getting near the stairs? It took years off my life when I saw that."

Amanda nodded, "Yes I know, Mother and I did discuss it with them that they were not to do anything like that without us."

Phillip stated, "I'm ready, Mom."

So Dotty and Amanda helped Phillip get back to bed and as Amanda tucked him in Phillip remarked, "Where's Jamie?"

Amanda stated, "He went to use my bathroom. Do you need anything else, Sweetheart?"

Phillip yawned and commented, "Yeah. This cast off."

Amanda and Dotty chuckled and both kissed Phillip saying, "Goodnight."

Dotty went back to bed and as Amanda came back to her room she found Jamie curled up in her bed.

Shaking her head she got in and pulled him close whispering, "Okay Pal, but just this once."

Jamie mumbled something as he was already drifting off and Amanda kissed the top of his head and then drifted off herself.

The next morning, Amanda was getting up with a stiff neck. "Ooh." She looked over and noticed Jamie was gone. She thought, Well, at least he got himself up today. As she got out of bed and was massaging her neck, she went to check on Phillip who was not in the room.

Going to the hall bathroom she knocked and queried, "Phillip? You all right, Sweetie?"

Dotty then called her from downstairs stating, "He's down here, Darling."

Amanda was stunned and came down to see Phillip on the couch! She went to him remarking, "How did you-I didn't hear anything!"

Dotty came over where they were and commented smiling, "He told Jamie he wanted to try coming down here and to go get me up and here we are. Jamie's gone to school of course."

She glanced at her daughter and stated concernedly, "What happened to your neck?"

Amanda was massaging once again and sighed."It's nothing. Just a little crick. I'll be fine."

Looking at the time she went back toward the stairs and stated, "I'd better get a move on or I'll be late."

She moved slowly as her neck was not cooperating. She thought all she needed was a hot shower and she'd be fine.

She came down a while later and gingerly got her purse and keys and went to the couch to kiss Phillip goodbye and he asked, "You okay, Mom? You look funny."

Amanda brushed his concern off and stated, "Yes Sweetheart, I'm fine. Just slept wrong or something. Please don't overdo it today, all right? I'm gonna call the doctor later and try to get us an appointment for next week."

Dotty stated, "Dear, you can't go to work that way-"

Amanda shrugged slowly. "I have to go, Mother. Call me if you need anything."

She left and got in her car and made sure nothing was around or behind her as she slowly pulled out of the driveway.

Straightening the car, she made her way out of the neighborhood and headed to work.

Meanwhile the phone rang in the house and Dotty picked it up. "Hello?"

Lee stated, "Hi, Dotty. It's Lee. Is Amanda there? We have a meeting now and I hadn't heard from her-"

Dotty shook her head. "No. Amanda just left. I'm sorry you missed her, but she should be there soon I imagine-"

Phillip was signaling her from the couch and she sighed nodding as she stated, "I think Phillip wants to talk to you-"

Lee shrugged. "Okay. Put him on."

Dotty handed him the phone and Phillip stated, "Guess where I am now?"

Lee shook his head. "Can't imagine, Sport. Where?"

Phillip grinned, "The couch. Thanks to Grandma and Jamie, that is-"

Lee smiled broadly and chuckled, "Hey! That's great, Pal! So, you doing okay? Do you need anything?"

Phillip sighed. "Yeah. To run outside again. Sheesh!"

Lee laughed as Billy was coming to the bullpen and Lee replied, "Well, don't worry. Just do what the doctor and your mom tell you to, okay? You'll get there."

Phillip nodded, "Okay. Lee, are you coming over tonight?"

Lee shrugged stating, "I dunno, Sport. I have to work on some stuff here, but I'll try. Listen, I've gotta go. Take care of that ankle, okay? Talk to you later. Bye."

Phillip replied. "Okay. Bye."

They hung up and Billy said to Lee, "How's Phillip? And where is Amanda?"

Lee shrugged. "Amanda just left apparently and Phillip managed the stairs today. He's down on the couch now. He's getting antsy laying around."

Billy nodded. "I can imagine. Much like you get in a hospital-"

Lee groaned. "Yeah, yeah. Can we just start the meeting already? Francine's here, isn't she?"

Billy nodded. "She's in Crypto. She'll be here shortly. Let's go to my office..."

TBC