Kelly's Journey Continues

Chapter 37

Lee's birthday arrived and the family set out on their busy day as Kelly had her play at school.

Lee had borrowed Jamie's video camera to capture the whole thing and as it was a special day, they let Kelly leave early to have lunch with her parents and grandmother and then go get Phillip and Jamie later.

The boys had tests that morning so leaving early was out of the question for them which worked out well because the adoption was set for after school, anyway.

As the family went to pick up the boys later Kelly asked, "Daddy, did you get all of the play on that thing or do I have to do it again tomorrow?"

Lee and Amanda chuckled and Lee stated, "No, Sweetie. I got it all and we'll watch it together tonight before you go to bed, okay?"

Kelly sighed and answered, "Phew! I'm glad, because that was a hard play!"

Amanda nodded and smiled back at her remarking, "Well. You were very good, Honey. Daddy and I are real proud of you."

Dotty asked Kelly, "So Sweetheart, when is your next play?"

Kelly shrugged replying, "I don't know, Grandma. I don't think I want to do another one. It was too hard-"

Lee glanced at Amanda and rolled his eyes as he drove shaking his head.

Amanda patted his hand and quietly shushed him as she sensed he was going to comment but all he responded to Amanda quietly was,"She was a butterfly. How hard was that?"

Amanda asided to him, "She's eight and has trouble concentrating sometimes. Let it go."

Lee sighed and shrugged as they pulled into the school parking lot and looking around, Lee spotted the boys and honked the horn.

Jamie and Phillip got in the back greeting everyone and Amanda queried as Lee pulled out of the lot, "How were the tests, Guys? Do you think you did all right?"

Phillip shrugged and commented, "I think I did okay on my history test. Jamie? How about you?"

Jamie remarked quietly, "I guess all right. Fractions still get to me, though."

Amanda noticed his demeanor and answered lightly, "I'm sure you both did really well. We're proud of both of you whatever grade you get, okay?"

Jamie shrugged and asked, "Even if we stunk?"

Lee nodded and agreed with Amanda replying, "I don't think either of you stunk. And even if you got so-so grades, it means you both tried your best to do well. That's all we care about. You both are pretty good students and I happen to think that if you buckle down early enough you'll be all right through your tests."

Phillip asked, "What does that mean?"

Jamie stated looking at his brother, "It means you shouldn't wait until the night before and cram-"

Phillip nudged him roughly and responded tersely, "You are such a little-"

Amanda put up a hand to silence her eldest answering firmly, "Boys, stop it! Jamie. You're right that you shouldn't wait until the last minute to do anything but at the same time you know better than to tattle on each other. You're getting too old for that, all right?"

Looking at Kelly she responded, "That also applies to you, Young Lady. We'll handle the discipline here, okay?"

Kelly protested, "But I didn't do anything!"

Lee pulled into the courthouse parking lot and parked with everyone exiting the car and replied, "Well, that's in case you do sometime."

As the boys walked up the steps Amanda stopped them commenting, "Wait. I brought your ties. Come back, Fellas."

Phillip and Jamie grumbled going back to Amanda stating, "Aw, man..."

Dotty shook her head and reproached them commenting, "C'mon. It's a special occasion and we want you to look especially nice, all right?"

She fixed Phillip's and Amanda fixed Jamie's and the women sighed as they looked at the two brothers.

Amanda remarked to a passerby, "Excuse me. Could you take a couple of family pictures for us, please?"

The woman nodded answering, "Of course. My, what a handsome family."

They all posed together, and then it was just Lee and the boys.

Amanda felt a lump in her throat as did Dotty as the men's picture was taken.

The woman finished and handing Amanda back the camera commented, "Good luck to you all."

Thanking her the family went into the courthouse and Chris met them all outside the judge's chambers.

He stated to Amanda swallowing hard, "I was so sorry to hear about Joe, Amanda. He-He was a good guy."

Amanda nodded as they hugged and she answered, "Thank you.. Carrie said to tell you thank you for the flowers and she'll call you soon, all right?"

Chris nodded and replied looking at Phillip and Jamie, "You guys have shot up since the last time I saw you. When was that? The soccer match in Alexandria two years ago, right?"

The boys nodded and Jamie responded to Amanda, "I need to go to the men's room."

Chris stated pointing, "Sure. It's just down that way to your left, okay?"

Jamie left without a word to him and Lee sensed something was bothering him and queried to Phillip, "Good idea. Why don't you go as well and then we can all go in, huh?"

Phillip nodded and left with Chris answering, "It's okay. We'll wait for you."

Phillip gave him a strange look as he walked away and Chris shrugged to Amanda and Lee commenting, "I'm sorry. Did I say something to upset Jamie?"

Lee shook his head and sighed stating, "No, Chris. But I'm thinking that he may have second thoughts on this-"

Dotty sensing they needed privacy remarked to Kelly, "C'mon, Sweetie. Let's go wash our hands, hmm?"

Kelly sighed and showed her hands to Amanda answered, "Mommy, my hands are clean! You saw me do it at lunch, right?"

Amanda gave a thank you wink to Dotty and replied to Kelly, "You can't do it too many times, all right? Now. Please go with Grandma while we talk to Chris, okay?"

Kelly sighed and walking away with Dotty responded, "Okay. But this is the last time today!"

Lee chuckled as he watched her walk away and answered, "We'll talk about that later, Honey."

Focusing back to Chris he stated, "I don't mean they don't want the adoption, but I think they'd really rather not have my name after all-"

Amanda shook her head as she patted Lee's arm commenting, "Oh, Sweetheart. That's not true! They love you-"

Lee squeezed her hands and remarked reassuringly, "And I love them. But I won't force the issue. Look. It's a part of who they are, right? I think they were just caught up in the initial moment of giving me the card and video, all right? I think that's what's bugging Jamie now. He in some way may feel as though he's disavowing his father's memory in some way. And even though Phillip hasn't said in so many words he may feel the same way, you know?"

Amanda swallowed hard as she nodded slowly thinking back to the day weeks ago when the boys came to her with the idea for Lee's present.

Phillip at the time had commented, "We wanna do this, Mom. I don't think Dad would've minded because he knows we'll still love him anyway."

Jamie agreed with Phillip and responded, "Yeah, Mom. I think Lee will like this and we'll all be happier, right?"

Amanda had tears come to her eyes as she brought them to her for a hug answering softly, "Yes, I think we will. But you know Lee would love you even if you didn't want to do this, right?"

The boys nodded and Phillip pulled back and asked, "Yeah. But can we go to the cemetery and talk to Dad about it anyway?"

Amanda nodded as she kissed them and replied gently, "We'll go right now. Grandma's here with Kelly so we'll let her know we'll be out for a bit, okay? I love you both very much."

They stated together, "We love you too, Mom."

Lee cleared his throat bringing Amanda back to the present and responded, "Honey? Here they come..."

Amanda sighed and answered, "I guess I should talk to them-"

But Lee held her back as Dotty and Kelly came back as well and he commented softly, "No, Sweetheart. Chris. Would you take the ladies inside with you and tell the judge we'll be right in, please?"

Kelly looked at Lee and queried, "What's wrong, Daddy?"

Lee touched her chin and responded, "Nothing, Sweetie. Go in with Grandma and Mommy now, all right?"

She nodded and left with Dotty.

Amanda was heading in but watched Lee go over to the boys slowly and thought sadly, Boys, please don't break Lee's heart...

Finally she went in with Dotty and Kelly and Chris and waited with them.

Meanwhile Lee stated to the boys, "Guys. Let's have a seat here for a minute, okay?"

The three sat on the bench outside the chambers and Phillip asked, "Lee? Aren't we gonna be late?"

Lee shook his head and answered, "No, it's okay. I told Chris to let the judge know we were talking for a minute here, all right?"

Clearing his throat he looked at both boys and remarked softly, "I can't tell you what it means to me that you want me to be your dad for real here. I know I've said that before to you, but I mean it. Now I know your intentions were honorable in wanting to do this but Fellas, you need to speak up now if you don't want to share my name after all. We need to always try to be honest with one another, huh?"

Jamie's eyes filled with tears as he asked quietly, "You mean, you wouldn't be mad at all if we-"

Phillip protested, "Jamie! It was your idea first!"

Jamie got up as he wiped his tears and gulped commented, "I-I know. But what about Dad? You still love him, don't you?"

Phillip replied loudly shaking his head, "Don't be a dork! Of course I do! But this won't change it-"

Lee put up a hand as passersby looked in their direction quizzically and he whispered bringing them close to him, "Hey, Guys! Guys, c'mon!"

Sighing as the boys were trying to calm down Lee responded, "All right. Let me make this clear, okay? I'll love you boys as my own with or without my name so whatever you decide here is fine with me. You got it?"

As the boys slowly nodded Lee kissed both boys temples and whispered, "Okay. Let's head in before the judge decides to scrap this appointment, huh?"

They all got up from the bench and went into the chambers and met with Judge Taylor who had a private talk with the boys before the papers were signed.

About an hour later everyone left the chambers as the adoption was complete. Lee after thanking Chris for everything looked at his watch and stated, "Okay. Who's ready for dinner?"

The kids cheered as they jumped in the car. Phillip and Kelly rode in the back compartment of the Jeep and Jamie sat next to Dotty in the back seat.

Dotty remarked as Lee was pulling out, "That was a beautiful ceremony, Boys. And I'm glad you're feeling better about things, hmm?"

Phillip smiled as he reached over to poke Jamie lightly and answered, "Yeah. We are, Grandma. We are..."

Jamie smiled back at Phillip realizing things would be all right after all as the family headed to dinner...

TBC