Loves Journey

Chapter 36

After eating breakfast, Amanda got in the shower, while Lee phoned the concierge. Discovering that there were a few canoe rental times available; noon and one pm, Lee placed the receiver down on the nightstand.

Poking his head inside the bathroom, Lee called out to Amanda, "There's a noon and one o'clock time available. Which one would you prefer?"

"Noon would be fine," Amanda replied. "I'm almost done."

"Okay, I'll book the noon time."

Lee quickly gave the information needed, hung up the phone, then stepped back into the bathroom just as Amanda was stepping out of the shower.

"Oh, I thought I might be able to join you!" Lee said, stepping up close behind Amanda.

"Oh, no! That isn't a good idea. We'd never make it to the canoe."

Lee nuzzled the back of Amanda's neck. "Well, what would be wrong with that?"

"Nothing, but there'll be time enough for more of this later," Amanda said, running her hand down the front of Lee's chest before pulling back and darting away from Lee's outstretched arms.

"Amanda!" Lee growled removing his clothing then stepping into the already running shower.

After showering and dressing in comfortable clothes; Amanda in a pair of jeans and a checkered red/blue shirt, Lee in jeans as well and a similar checkered shirt, they left the hotel room for the first time since they checked in on Saturday afternoon.

While they walked over to the concierge, a young woman stepped up behind them, a beautiful toddler holding her hand; short curls just below her neck. A yellow bow in her brown hair, similar to Amanda's, and bright blue sparkling eyes like Amanda's.

"Sir?" Lee's train of thought was interrupted by the man behind the desk.

"Oh, yes, sorry. I made canoe reservations for two for Noon."

"The name, please!"

"Stetson, Lee Stetson."

"Yes, Sir, let me see," Paxton replied, looking down at a clipboard and then thumbing through a container. "Yes, I see your reservation," Paxton continued.

"Thank you," Lee said.

"There is a shuttle that will take you over to the boats or would you prefer to drive?"

Lee looked towards Amanda who nodded in agreement. "The shuttle would be fine, thanks."

"Okay, just step over there to the front entrance, and there will be someone to pick you up shortly."

Lee and Amanda walked outside towards the doors and while standing in line, Lee's eyes darted towards the toddler who was now outside just a few short feet from them. The little girl smiled as she held onto, who Lee assumed was her mother's, hand; walking across the driveway towards the parking lot. Inadvertently, Lee's eyes remained on them for several minutes. Feeling a nudge at his shoulder, Lee jumped slightly pulling his eyes away from the pair.

"Lee, is something wrong?" Amanda asked as they waited by the front doors.

"Oh, nothing!" Lee replied, but as they headed over to the shuffle, Lee thought about his and Amanda's conversation before they got married, about whether or not they wanted to have children.

He was pretty sure he'd love to have children with Amanda. He just wasn't sure how she felt about the matter. She said she hadn't given it much thought. They'd left the discussion open for later. With all the wedding plans, there wasn't time to talk about it, and though there wasn't a rush to do so now, part of him wondered when they should talk about it.

Amanda's hand against his, pulling it into hers answered his question. This was their honeymoon after all; they could discuss it later. Lee thought.

"Lee, wasn't that the most adorable little girl you'd ever seen?"

"Amanda, I, oh, yeah, she was pretty adorable, cute," Lee responded. She always knows. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Amanda asked innocently.

"Know what I'm thinking?"

"I know you; that's how I always know."

Lee smiled brightly. "I remember the time that would scare me to death."

"I remember that too!"

"We don't have to talk about—"

"I haven't forgotten about our conversation; we will talk, soon," Amanda said answering what she knew Lee was thinking. "Is that okay?" Her hand rubbed his gingerly.

"Yes, that is okay."

With that, they turned towards the window, looking out at the scenery as the shuttle drove towards the waterfront.

Canoeing

After getting off the shuttle, Lee and Amanda boarded the canoe, him on one end of the boat and Amanda on the other. Amanda insisted on taking the lead seeing that she had experience from her Junior Trailblazer days at camp. Inwardly, Lee grunted but allowed Amanda to steer them out in the water. She could be quite shy and bashful in her skills when it came to certain things; such as anything to do with the agency, but when it came to other things such as this, where she knew she was skillful she wasn't bashful about it at all. Amanda almost sounded like Captain Bligh! Lee smiled and sat back and did as he was told, waiting to see if she was as good as her claim. As usual, Amanda hadn't sold herself short, she expertly maneuvered the canoe, using the paddle as effortlessly as she walked across the room, once again not only surprising Lee but causing him to be even more in awe of his wife.

They were about three fourths way across the water, headed back towards shore when a flock of seagulls crossed in front of them. Amanda took her camera out of her purse, dropped her paddles and stood up.

"Amanda, sit down, what are you doing?"

"Look!" Amanda said, motioning towards the birds. "I'm taking a picture!"

"Okay, but hurry up, before you tip the boat over! "

Amanda snapped a few photos, and then as she began to sit down, leaned to one side, upsetting the balance of the canoe. The craft wobbled, unsteady in the water.
"Amanda!" Lee shouted, catching her before she fell into the water. His sudden movement rocked the canoe harder causing Lee to fall over the side. "Oh, Lee!" Amanda shouted, and grabbed Lee's arms to pull him back in, one of Lee's arms was tangled in Amanda's purse strap that was on the seat, hindering Lee from pulling upward, which caused Lee to fall waist deep in the water. Lee was wet from head to toe, having been saturated with water from Amanda's attempts at pulling Lee back in the boat. By the time, Lee was untangled from Amanda's purse and upright in the boat, Lee was soaking wet.

"Lee! I'm sorry."

"Did you really just have to have that picture of the seagulls?"

"I wanted to show the boys! And mother!"

"Did you get your picture?

"Yes!"

"Good!"

Amanda closed her mouth tight trying not to laugh.

"Amanda?"

"Yes, Lee?"

"Can we head back now?" Lee asked, wrapping his arms around his chest as he began shivering from the brisk breeze coming off the lake.

"Oh, sure! We better get you back and get you out of those wet clothes," Amanda paused, "before you catch a chill!"

When Lee was quiet, Amanda said again, "Lee, I really am sorry."

The frown on Lee's face softened, and he reached out and touched Amanda's arm. "I know you are!"

"I guess I was just a little excited."

"I know. I know. It's okay—let's go."

Amanda and Lee picked up their paddles and began rowing back.