No More Games
Chapter Forty Eight
Lee and Dotty arrived back at the house to find Phillip and Jamie watching a movie and Dotty said, "Boys, where's your mother? "
Jamie said, "We don't know, Grandma. Hi, Lee."
Lee smiled at the two young men that he hoped would be happy at what was to occur shortly. "Hi, fellas. What do you mean you don't know?"
Phillip shrugged. "She was acting kind of weird after Grandma left. She wasn't sick, but she said she had to go out-."
Dotty shook her head and sighed, "That child of mine is driving me crazy! Did she say where she was going? "
Jamie shook his head. "Nope. Just said she's ruined everything. Then she left after we helped her finish getting dinner ready. I don't get it either."
Dotty went to sit on the couch and wrung her hands and began crying, "I just can't take this any more! What is happening to my little girl?"
Lee went over and kissed her temple and said softly, "Don't worry, huh? I'll find her. You've done enough for this family already. You just sit tight here with the boys and I'll be back soon."
Phillip said, "Lee, if you don't know where she is, how are you gonna find her? "
Lee smiled and said, "By checking obvious places first, Chief. In fact Dotty, why don't you start dinner without us. We may be a while at that, and I don't want these two to fade away, huh? "
Dotty nodded and said, "Well, all right. If you're sure..."
Lee winked at them and left taking the rental car that Dotty drove. He pulled out of the driveway muttering," I hope to God you're somewhere safe Amanda, because I'm coming whether you like it or not!"
He checked all her haunts, old and new and came up empty. Next, he drove to all the tourist areas around D.C. Still nothing.
He got off the GW Parkway and headed back to Arlington when it suddenly dawned on him where she might be.
He'd already scoped out the Reflecting Pool, and Rock Creek Park. Nothing there either.
He felt ridiculous not realizing sooner that she just might be where it all began for them!
As he pulled into the train station parking lot and parked he said, "No where left to go but up, sweetheart."
He got out and merged through the crowds of people until he came near the platform area where he first grabbed her elbow. He played the scene out in his mind like it was yesterday...
"Walk with me." "I certainly will not! "
He chuckled as he remembered their outfits. He in a waiter's suit, she in a nightgown with her coat and scarf on of course!
As he looked around slowly he finally saw her a few feet from where he stood, facing the opposite direction sitting on a bench!
Breathing a sigh of relief he went slowly to her and gently touched her shoulder, making her jump!
Amanda shook her head! "What are you doing here? I thought we were over..."
Lee said, "Over? Honey, in order to be over, we would've had to have dated for a while, or in our case, start to date! Now after nearly three years, I think it's time to make some serious changes, don't you? "
Amanda sighed and said sadly, "I don't think we can. Too much has happened and it's been my fault-."
Lee shook his head and put himself in front of her and knelt down holding the box he had in his pocket and said,"Amanda Jean West King, you are my heart and soul and my sole reason for being on this earth right now. I never thought I'd find someone as wonderful and special as you to have in my life. No, my sweetheart. I am the ass in this whole equation..."
Then he opened the box and Amanda gasped as she looked at the ring! Lee went on saying, "Let's start a new chapter in our lives, honey. It can only get better from here..."
Amanda sighed and gulped and tears streamed down her face as she sat there stunned!
Lee cleared his throat and looked around at the crowd forming! "Uh sweetie, maybe now would be a good time to you know, answer? "
Amanda nodded happily and still crying said, "Yes, yes, and yes! "
The crowd cheered as they kissed passionately and Lee put his mother's ring on Amanda's finger and Amanda teased Lee by saying, "Gee, I hope the family will be okay with this..."
Lee brought her up with him and laughed saying, " Let's go home and find out, shall we? "
As the happy couple walked away from the train area and headed for the parking lot, Leslie O'Connor had stepped off the train and watched them go saying, "Have a good life, Lee. You deserve every happiness."
It surprised her that she wasn't angry any more but being away gave her much time to reflect on her own life and choices and it was then that she realized it wouldn't have worked for them anyway. Their jobs would have left them little time to be together, much less start a family which is what she'd been thinking about since Indonesia.
Picking up her bag, she headed for the parking lot, but stopped at a pay phone to make a call.
When the party answered she said, "Tony? Hi, it's Leslie. Yeah, I just got back into town and was wondering if you'd like to have dinner..."
TBC
