Chapter 35 - An Early Morning Surprise Visitor

(Saturday Morning)

As she started to wake up, she felt like she was being watched. It was an eerie sensation but her instincts told her it wasn't Lee or Penny or Rheza. Someone was sitting in her room by her bed and they were staring at her. Her eyes felt like glue. He head still hurt a lot from the accident and apparently her brain wasn't willing to let her eyes open up and see the world just yet. She decided that she needed to relax and then her eyes would open naturally. If this person had come to hurt her, he or she could have already done so.

She finally managed to make herself relax enough that her eyes began to open. At first her eyesight was really blurry but slowly it began to come into focus. She looked over at her visitor and tried to focus on who it was. She could tell it was a man and he appeared to be bald so it definitely wasn't Billy or Lee though Mr. Melrose no longer had a full head of hair.

As she laid there staring at him and trying to focus on who it might be, he said "I can't believe you ended up here. I would have brought you flowers if I had known but of course it doesn't matter what your title is, they don't let you just leave after surgery. Sounds like you managed to give everyone quite a scare. You look a little lost. Do you remember me?"

It was all a little foggy but she knew she should know who this man was. Just as she was about to admit defeat and admit that she had no idea who he was; it came to her.

"Stanley? Is that you? What on earth are you doing in NH?"

Stanley chuckled and rubbed his bald head. "You can't forget a bald head like this now can you Missy? Well see I was actually visiting DC in hopes of meeting with the President to discuss a new surgical procedure I am working on that I need funding for when suddenly that damn hernia flared up and I passed out. Of course the wife immediately called for an ambulance and had me carted off to the hospital and I did agree to surgery there but only if they agreed to let me be air lifted afterward back here. So here I am. Now I'm stuck as a blasted patient until my body mends."

"So you live around here?" Amanda asked while ignoring his rant.

"Yup, sure do, just about 15 minutes from the hospital. It makes for a quick commute when I'm needed in a hurry."

"Oh so you work here?" Amanda asked.

Stanley smiled and said "Yes, I probably left that part out. I'm a Pediatric Cardiologist."

"Oh Wow, I had no idea. How did you find me?"

"Well I thought it was just a coincidence at first but as I was being noisy and looking at new arrivals I saw your name and that you were from Arlington VA. So I just had to come check and see if it was you. I couldn't believe that it was when I saw you but no one forgets such a beautiful woman. So I asked what happened to you and found out that you nearly died over in the White Mountains. I heard that your boyfriend found you just in time though and got them to bring you here. Smart choice, this is the best damn hospital in New England." Stanley said proudly.

"Well Lee isn't my boyfriend but yes thankfully he found me in time. Boy what a small world; I sure never expected to see you again."

"Well when a beautiful woman leaves a grumpy old man like me flowers when she doesn't even know him, I knew I needed to repay the gesture. Unfortunately I didn't have any damn flowers laying around; so the best I could do was to look at your chart and make sure they were taking good care of you. Then I thought I would stick around until you woke up so I could say hi. Well I won't take up anymore of your time. I heard that they are probably going to keep you today and then bust you loose tomorrow anyway. Amanda do you have kids?"

"Yes, 2 little boys; Phillip and Jamie. Why?"

"No reason. You just look like someone who should have kids. I'll bet you are a great Mother."

"That's awfully nice of you to say."

"I mean it. I hope they stay healthy all of their lives but if you ever run into any problem, you know where to find me. Promise me you will call me?"

Amanda gulped at such a kind gesture. "I'll keep that in mind if there is ever a problem."

Stanley squeezed her hand, leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then started to wheel his wheelchair out of the room. He turned back and said "Looks like that non-boyfriend of yours just arrived. Guess I'm leaving at just the right time. Safe travels home Amanda."

Stanley nodded to Lee as he walked into the room looking confused.

"Amanda who was that?"

"Just a new friend." Amanda answered.

"I saw him kiss you. He looks old enough to be your father. What the Hell was going on in here?"

"Oh nothing really. He just stopped in to say hi and to make sure I'm okay. I'm okay so he left."

"But he kissed you? I mean, I guess it is none of my business but it seems strange for a man who barely knows you to kiss you, don't you think?"

"Oh Lee, it is fine. He was just being nice."

"You know the problem with you Amanda? You trust everyone too much."

"What?"

"No I mean it. Someone has to say it. You are always trusting people way too quickly. Not everyone is as nice as they seem and some are actually out to hurt you. You need to learn to be more careful. A good agent always is suspicious of anyone's motives."

"I guess except when they are your date?"

"What? Oh Amanda, Sheila was different. I had no idea she had mental issues. Look, I'm sorry for what she did. I'm sorry I ever got involved with her and I'm especially sorry that I ever used you thinking it would make her go away. I have my work cut out for me to make it up to you.

"You don't have to make anything up to me. I'm over it. I'm just glad you found me in time." Amanda shuddered at the thought.

"Yeah, me too. Look, I didn't come here to argue with you. I'm thrilled that you are awake and that you seem to be nearly back to normal. How do you feel?"

"I'm still really tired but otherwise, I feel okay. My head doesn't hurt as badly anymore since they stitched it. Lee does my Mother know I'm here? You know I never called her at all. She is bound to be worried. It isn't like me not to call her but the whole accident happened just before I reached the cabin; well you know that I guess."

"Amanda, it's okay. Yes, Penny called her last night after we left you. She's worried of course but we convinced her that you were okay and should be coming home on Sunday. I found a mechanic and body shop here who could fix the car so it should be ready to go by Tuesday at the latest. Rheza has hired a man to drive it back to Arlington as soon as it is ready to go and he was kind enough to offer to pay for all the repairs too. In the meantime, we should be able to head out early Sunday morning and I'll drive you home. That way I can keep an eye on you too."

"Oh my Gosh, the wedding! Did I ruin the wedding for them?"

"Amanda, No. You didn't ruin anything for anyone. The important thing is that you are still with us. There will be other vacations and in fact I think Penny is already cooking up an idea for a future time for you both to try again. In the meantime, she and Rheza left really early this morning to go to the wedding and they should be back late this afternoon so she can spend a little time with you. In the meantime, I think you should call your Mother. She doesn't know anything about Sheila, she just knows you got into a terrible car accident along the way and that it took awhile for us to find you. Meanwhile, I'm going to the Café to get a cup of coffee. That should give you some time for some privacy, okay?"

"Us? Mother doesn't know about you does she?"

"No of course not. It was just a figure of speech. As far as she is concerned Rheza was the one who found you and saved you."

Thanks. Lee? I heard that it was actually you who saved me?"

"I was the one who got to you first but it was a group effort Amanda. No one was going to give up until we found you."

"Wow, that's nice to know. Thank you Lee."

"Don't mention it. Do you want anything out of the Café?"

"Sure, how about a double scoop of ice cream on top of a big warm brownie and all drizzled in hot fudge sauce?" Amanda suggested.

"I don't know if your doctor" Lee started and then noticed her smiling. He chuckled as he knew she had just pulled his leg. "I'll be back"

"Got Ya" Amanda said quietly as he left the room.

She then picked up the phone and began calling her Mother. This was one phone call she was not looking forward to.

TBC