Loves Journey

Chapter 37

Hotel

By the time they made it back to the hotel, Lee's anger that had dissipated was now back in full motion. Lee was fit to be tied.

Flashback:

"Hi, I'm from the hotel," A young man in his 20's said stepping up, "my name is Ernie and I—" his voice trailed off as he noticed Lee standing next to Amanda shivering slightly, "am here to take you back to the hotel."

"What happened to the shuttle?" Amanda asked noticing the shiny new blue 1986 GMC-Suburban.

"Oh, well…it broke down and is at the shop. We have another shuttle, but it won't be here for another hour or so. I'm able to give rides back, but I can only take a limited amount of people." Ernie said, looking around at the crowd of people beginning to line up for the hotel.

Amanda noticing that there were at least twelve people behind herself and Lee said,

"Well, we'd love to go, my husband fell in the lake and needs to get back as quick as possible to change clothes."

"Yeah, I can see that you would want to go back now. I must warn you though, this is the manager's car, and he only just picked it up yesterday. So, he's pretty well…" he leaned in close to Amanda and Lee and continued almost in a whisper, "skittish about his vehicle."

"We don't mind," Lee said.

"Okay," Ernie replied.

"But you have to sit on that paper," Ernie replied pointing towards the newspaper on the seats.

Lee and Amanda nodded as they boarded the truck. Then six more people entered the vehicle along with them.

"And you'll have to keep your feet on the paper on the floor," Ernie said to everyone, his eyes focused especially on Lee, who made a grunting sound.

End of Flashback

Once they made it to the hotel and Lee stood up to get out, the newspaper was stuck to Lee's pants. Once again, Amanda placed her hand over her mouth to contain the laughter that was threatening to come out. Grunting, Lee snatched the paper away as he and Amanda rushed inside the hotel.

"Lee, you'd better get in the shower before you catch a cold," Amanda said as they reached their hotel room.

"Yes, I should do that!"

Amanda burst out laughing as she sat down in one of the dining room chairs and dusted at her own jeans that were slightly damp. Amanda grabbed a magazine and began looking through it while she waited for Lee. After several minutes, she glanced at her watch and headed towards the bathroom placing her ear against the door. The shower was still going full blast. Shrugging her shoulders, she sat back down and began looking at her magazine again. When after several more minutes, Lee wasn't out, Amanda knocked on the door, and when Lee didn't answer, Amanda opened the door calling Lee's name as she did so.

"Lee! Are you alright in here?"

Pulling the shower door wide open Lee was rinsing out soap suds from his hair.

"Oh, Lee, you scared me to death! I thought something had happened to you in here…"

"Like what, Amanda?" Lee questioned.

"Oh, you were in here so long, and well…I don't know. Maybe that you'd slipped in the tub or something," Amanda continued with a shrug.

"I know, you just wanted to join me," Lee said as he placed a leg out of the shower, reaching towards Amanda.

"Lee Stetson, don't you dare," Amanda shrieked as Lee reached out and picked Amanda up and carried her towards the shower stall.

Amanda squirmed, laughing when Lee held her close to the running shower.

"You know I really should get you," Lee murmured, his lips against her ear.

"I said I was sorry."

"Hmm hmm! I know," Lee murmured, kissing her cheek just before putting her down on her feet outside the stall. "Here, let me dry off, and then I'll get some clothes on, and we can think about what else we want to do before we—" Lee stopped.

"Before we what?"

"Oh, nothing, plans for later."

"Lee, what are you up to?"

"Nothing."

After Lee redressed, Lee and Amanda headed out for a drive. They took a route selected by one of the hotel staff that took them on the highway. Several signs off the highway directed them towards a small shopping center. They exited the highway and found several shops nestled together, a clothing store, an antique store, and a coffee shop. They bypassed the clothing store altogether, choosing to go to 'The Antique Teapot Shop and More' shop instead, where they found several purchases; a teapot for her mother, a Stockman penknife for the colonel and they discovered a train set for the boys. When they finished, Amanda and Lee went to the coffee shop, ordered some coffee then sat down.

"So, you know the conversation from earlier," Amanda said picking up Lee's hand and holding it in her hand.

"Yes?"

"I have been thinking about it and…" Amanda paused for a moment, looking deeply into Lee's eyes, "Lee nothing would make me happier than having a baby or two with you!"

"Oh, Amanda! Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. But there are a few things, details that we will need to work out."

"Such as the house," Lee answered for Amanda.

"We will definitely need a new house."

"Yes."

"And then there is the matter of my career. I will still want to work at the agency and be your partner."

Lee smiled up at Amanda. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Amanda smiled back at Lee and said, "So, I think we need to talk to Billy, so that we can see how having a baby works when it's a woman agent. And I need to talk to my doctor, you know I am in my late thirties, things might be different…for me…conceiving."

Lee smiled at the ramble that came out of Amanda's mouth. "Talking to Billy is a good idea and seeing your doctor, that is important too. I never thought of that, about your age I mean," Lee answered back.

"Oh gee thanks, Lee!" Amanda said.

"I mean, you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." There was a pause before Amanda said, "Then we can go from there."

Monday Afternoon

As Lee maneuvered his car across the road, Amanda sat next to Lee, her fingers unconsciously running across the back of the gold heart pendant as she reflected about her and Lee's last night on their honeymoon. Not only had he given her a box of Devonna chocolates, but he also surprised her with a new heart pendant necklace. Later, that same night, they celebrated their last night by going to dinner at a quaint but eloquent restaurant someone from the hotel recommended. Afterward, they went back to the hotel where Lee put Bryan Adams' cassette 'A Night in Heaven' on and they danced and swayed to the melody of 'Heaven' as Lee held her in his arms moving to the lyrics:

Baby, you're all that I want

When you're lyin' here in my arms

I'm findin' it hard to believe

We're in heaven

And love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn't too hard to see

We're in heaven

Oh, once in your life you find someone

Who will turn your world around

Bring you up when you're feelin' down

Later, she and Lee went to bed where they held each other close as they slowly made love before falling asleep entwined in each other's arms, where they remained until the next morning when their stomachs awakened them.

In front of 4247 Maplewood Drive

Realizing that the car was now stopped and they were in front of her house, Amanda asked, "Is something wrong?" Amanda asked.

"No. You know Amanda before now, I've never really had a family or a home, a real home," Lee paused.

"I know," Amanda agreed.

"I'm excited and nervous at the same time."

"It's fine. You will be fine," Amanda said, reaching out and touching Lee's hand before she leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. "Let's go in."

She then stared into Lee's amazingly beautiful eyes for a moment and smiled at him. Lee was right; this was a new beginning for them, a beautiful new beginning. Of course, there would be some trials and challenges along the way, but she knew that they would make it, no matter what. Not just because they loved one another, but because the two of them were a great team at work and now they would also be a great team in their home too.

Lee returned Amanda's smile as they sat that way a few more minutes before Lee stepped out of the car, walked around to Amanda's side opening her door, reaching down to assist her out. When Lee turned to close Amanda's door, Dotty, Philip, and Jamie came running out of the house.

"Welcome home!" All three said in unison reaching out to grab Amanda and Lee into an embrace.

Amanda and Lee's smiles grew even brighter as their family greeted them.

That's all!

Thanks for reading another one of my stories.

I hope you enjoyed it. I appreciate your comments and feedback.

Author's notes: Thanks to Tracey and Karen who continue to faithfully Beta my stories.

However, any errors not caught, I take full responsibility for.