Brand New Journey
Chapter 50
Mrs. Michaels had given permission for Kelly to spend the weekend at Amanda's with Dotty and also Francine, who'd been invited by Kelly so they could do girl things.
But Kelly was in a bit of a mood when Francine came back at dinner with her overnight bag after Lee and Amanda had left for their trip.
Dotty let her in the front door warning her, "I told her we could set each other's hair tonight and do makeup but she's not having it."
Francine gave a faint smile as she saw Kelly sitting at the table pushing her dinner around on a plate and not eating.
Seeing Francine she pouted, "Aunt F'wancie, Daddy and Manda left me! I thought they liked me!"
Francine put up a hand to Dotty who was about to answer and stated gently as she sat down at the table, "They do like you. In fact, they love you. But Honey, here's the thing. They just have a bit of free time before they have to go back to work and Grandma Dotty knew how tired they've been lately so she arranged for us to have a slumber party here and for Daddy and Manda to get rest away."
Francine opened her bag and pulled out mini marshmallows adding, "Besides, guess what we're gonna have this weekend?"
Kelly bounced in her chair excitedly, "Hot chocolate?"
Dotty shook her head laughing as she commented, "Well of course, but I have a better idea. How about S'mores, Ladies?"
Francine and Kelly answered, "Yea!"
Finally getting Kelly to eat a while later Francine then went back to Dotty in the kitchen replying, "Glad I brought supplies, huh?"
Dotty smirked and responded, " Yes, but I'll tell you what. Why don't we save these for hot chocolate later this weekend because Amanda has the bigger marshmallows for S'mores, all right? That is, if I can figure out where that girl hid them. I swear I live here, but she even hides them from me! Can you imagine?"
Francine sighed and nodded stating, "Okay. Just tell me how high to set the oven at and we'll be good to go once we do find them."
Dotty asked incredulously, "You've never had S'mores before, have you?"
Francine waved it away answering, "Of course. It's graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows. We melt the chocolate and the marshmallows until they're gooey and we're set, right?"
Dotty sighed and remarked patiently, "Well yes, but we actually heat them over a campfire. Which... we don't have at the moment, but we do have the grill outside! Perfect! Now, we're set..."
Meanwhile Lee and Amanda had checked into the Barclay Hotel amid some confusion about the booking.
When Lee gave their name at the desk the clerk asked, " Edna Gilstrap? Raffle? I don't know what you're talking about, Sir-"
Amanda then realized what may have happened and stated quickly, "Did you receive a phone call from a Dotty West? She's my mother and she wanted to surprise us with this stay for the weekend here. The raffle I believe, was a ruse only."
The clerk checked the phone log for the past three weeks and then smiled responding, "Yes, here it is. Dotty West did call to make a reservation for you. I'm-I'm sorry about the confusion here, Mr and Mrs. Stetson. it's funny how these things happen, isn't it?"
Lee sighed and perturbedly nodded replying, "Oh, yeah. Hilarious!"
The bellhop soon arrived to help bring their bags to their suite which had a double bed!
Lee looked at Amanda concernedly and answered, "I can ask if they have a single room for me somewhere-"
But Amanda shook her head commenting, "Lee, it's fine. We'll make do. Besides, I can use the sofa, which for once is big enough for you to also use-"
But Lee remarked, "No, c'mon. That wouldn't be right-"
Amanda responded quickly, "All right. We'll take turns, huh?"
The bellhop overhearing put the luggage down and asked, "Is the room satisfactory for you both? It is the honeymoon suite that was requested?"
Amanda shook her head as Lee was about to respond and answered, "No, everything's fine. But I don't suppose you have a rollaway bed, do you?"
The bellhop was taken aback by the question and remarked carefully, "Um no. I'm sorry. There is a cheerleading squad that is currently using them all. And also, I'm afraid we're booked up solid for the weekend if you wanted a single room. I apologize but the person reserving the room should have informed us well in advance about needing an extra room."
Lee waved it away and gave him a tip as Amanda thanked the bellhop stating,"We understand. Thank you so much."
Lee nodded as the bellhop left and remarked drily, "Yeah, thanks."
Amanda began putting her things away remarking, "Lee, it's really all right. Besides, it's only for two nights. Have you ever stayed here bef- oh, never mind. Of course you have."
Lee shrugged defensively, "Why do you say it like that? I don't always stay at posh hotels, Amanda. Sometimes with the cases I've been on over the years, it's been almost like dives. Ask Francine sometime. She'll be glad to tell you the horror stories of the places she's been at."
Amanda sighed and answered, "I'm sorry, but it all seemed so glamorous when I first started at the Agency. I mean who knew you all could have expense accounts and wardrobe budgets-"
Lee chuckled and remarked, "C'mon! It's just like your household budgeting-"
Amanda replied, "Only a lot bigger! I can't just go to any store and say, "Put this on my card." It's just not that way in my world."
Lee smiled responding, "Well, if you knew what I paid in detailing every month-"
Amanda answered, "See? That's just it. You wouldn't be able to do that if you lived in my neighborhood."
Lee queried, "I don't follow. What do you mean?"
Amanda got her purse and pulled her wallet out showing her the cards she keeps. She stated, "I have a gas card, grocery card, bank card and my checkbook. The gas card is for emergency fixes like brakes and oil changes and wash and waxes. The grocery card is for use with coupons but I also use my checkbook there. The bank card is used for any withdrawals I need but with my checkbook I use it for unexpected expenses. The house, medical emergencies, and my car. For instance, when Mrs. Welch took my car when we were up in the helicopter and it got wrecked? Or when I was taking Magda to the airport and I took an unexpected trip through a swamp-"
Lee began laughing and nodded commenting, "Ah, yeah! The good old days."
Amanda shook her head and responded, "Right. If that's what you wanna call them. But nothing really compares to having to tell my mother all those ridiculous stories about what I was doing or where I was going all the time. I really thought that once I told her about the job being at IFF it would get easier, you know?"
Lee sighed and took her hand answering, "Hey... Once again I'm sorry the career choice you made hasn't been the dream job you wanted. But at least now, you don't have to lie about everything. Just some things we can't tell her."
Amanda shrugged replying, "Oh, it hasn't been so bad. Now while being chased by killers isn't at the top of my list, I will say I've been to some pretty great places I thought I'd never see thanks to you. Germany, London, San Angelo. Just to name a few."
Lee squeezed her hand commenting, "And thanks to you, I've seen the same places over again with new eyes. Really. There are parts of this world I just never gave a second thought to. Until you showed me. You also showed me the best way to deal with things I wasn't accustomed to before. Like childcare."
Amanda cleared her throat and looking down at her wedding ring she asked, "Speaking of new things, my ring wasn't like yours. Is there a reason why?"
Lee holding her left hand and running his thumb over the band slowly swallowed hard and nodded answering, "It was my mother's. The Colonel felt it was right that you have it-"
Amanda shook her head and swallowed hard remarking, "Omigosh, Lee! I can't keep this! This wasn't meant for a convenient marriage-I-"
Lee shook his head as she was trying to remove it and he stopped her responding, "Please stop, all right? The Colonel felt that if there was anyone more suited for me, it would be you. And for however long this thing lasts, I agree with him. Also he said it's the family blessing for me. So, will you keep it on?"
Amanda gulped as her eyes filled with unshed tears and she nodded replying, "Okay, thanks. I'd be honored."
Lee sighed deeply and looking at his watch stated, "All right. Now that that's settled, can we go eat? I'm starving. And we don't have to eat here. Wherever you want, okay?"
Amanda nodded and wiping her eyes smiled commenting, "When Mother and the boys were at the beach last year they went to a clambake, but there was a place near where they stayed-"
Lee smiled and answered, "Lonnie's Crab Shack-"
Amanda was surprised and replied, "How did you know?"
Lee shrugged and responded, "I saw it on the way here when we stopped for gas. C'mon. After you..."
TBC
