Author's Note: Here is another chapter—only one more chapter to go. Enjoy! Thanks again to the Beta team.

Chapter 7

Dotty came down the stairs, having had one of the worst night sleeps she'd had in a while. It wasn't as though she'd never slept in the house alone before or that she and Amanda had never had a huge fight before, but this was perhaps the worst one ever. Amanda's lying the past four years, and the fact that she not only got engaged but secretly married was just too much for her to bear. As she got some coffee and toast prepared, she did have to admit that her temper had simmered somewhat; but it was going to be difficult for her and the boys to trust Amanda again. But she knew that they would be able to work things out and get past it; it would just take some time.

***SMK***

A little later, at Amanda's house, the dining room was full with the entire family situated around the table; Lee, Amanda, Dotty, Philip and Jamie, along with Joe and Carrie. Lee and Amanda had arrived first, with the boys coming just as Amanda got her key in the door. She'd hoped that she and Lee would have time to talk to her Mother alone, but it wasn't to be. When they entered the house, Amanda had said, "Mother, do you think that we should talk privately before we talk in front of the boys?" Her reply had been, "No, Amanda, I don't think so…I think that we need to talk openly like families do…like we normally do."

Instead of arguing the point, Amanda said nothing but thought to herself, Yeah, right? She remembered some time ago when she was working with Lee when he was in the hospital. She'd awakened in a cheery mood and when she came downstairs, everyone else was in a bad mood. She'd suggested that they work things out as a family and talk things through. Well, all the good that did her, considering her Mother blamed the lousy day on Amanda because she worked late, Dean came by without her knowing it and fixed Philip's broken skateboard and a whole heap of other stuff. She hoped that this 'talking things through' would go better. "Well, let's get this over with," Amanda whispered against Lee's ear as she took Lee's hand and had a seat.

Joe and Carrie offered to go home, but everyone insisted that they stay. Otherwise, they'd have to tell them later the outcome of the conversation, so they might as well stay and hear everything first hand. Besides, because of Philip and Jamie, they needed to know what was going on.

The boys had greeted them with a weak good morning and now sat stiffly beside their father and although Dotty didn't appear as angry as she did the day before, Amanda could clearly see the hurt in her eyes and hear it in her voice.

"Amanda and Lee, I must tell you that I was very upset yesterday," Dotty began. "And, I know that the boys are as well…I mean Amanda, you were never a secretive child, you always came to me with your little confidences, but in the last few years, you have been deceitful about the work that you do and now we find out that you are married."

She took a deep breath and continued. "Now, I want you to tell me everything starting from the very beginning!"

"Mother, I—"

"Wait!" Dotty said, holding up her hands. "I promise to listen and then at the end, I will ask questions. And," she turned to Philip and Jamie, "the boys can have a chance to ask questions. Then, we are going to move past this and work towards putting this whole thing behind us."

Dotty looked around the room and everyone nodded in agreement.

Amanda took a deep breath before saying, "Well, it all started over three years ago. Dean asked me to take him to the train station because his weather prediction for the day was that it was going to rain and he was concerned about his car—"She went on to explain how Lee was at the station and he asked her for help.

"I think I remember that. Was this around that time, there was a package and I went and mailed it for you and you were looking worried about it?" Her Mother asked.

"Yes, Mother! Anyway, that was when there was that cooking show with Mrs. Welch and I could figure out the show was a way to find and kidnap agents and kill them." Amanda glanced towards the boys to see what their reaction was. When they appeared to be okay, she continued. "The recipes weren't recipes at all but vital information about top agents."

"Amanda, do you mean to tell me that you had something to do with them catching her?"

Somehow Lee was not surprised that Dotty wasn't able to keep to her promise of listening and then asking questions after. He interjected, "Yes, Mrs. West, if it wasn't for Amanda, no telling what would have happened and where I would be right now."

There were audible gasps from around the table.

"Well, Lee, I don't know about that—"

Lee touched Amanda's hand. "You and I both know that it was great thinking that helped save me and stop that ring of…I mean, stopped that organization from doing more damage."

Amanda shrugged and went on with her story. "After that, the agency hired me to come in and help out on assignments from time to time."

Dotty didn't miss the look of admiration on Lee's face or the way Amanda took it in stride.

"So, Amanda, was there ever a pet sitting business?"

"Well, no, Mother, there wasn't."

"Why didn't you tell me the truth? I mean, I think you've said it already, but I don't understand," Dotty said, shaking her head. "Boys, do you understand it?"

The boys shook their heads no.

"Well, I think I can tell you so that you understand it," Lee spoke up. "When Amanda first helped me out, I never expected to see her again. She helped with that one little part and then I thought that was it. So, for her safety and your safety, I told her not to tell you. Who knew that she would be so much help that she would remain with the agency?"

"Okay, I can get that, but what about later?" Dotty demanded.

"Well, Mother, remember, I did try to tell you before?"

Dotty looked at Amanda and was about to disagree that she would have remembered that, but then something came to her. "Amanda, do you mean that time that there was— "she stopped herself when she realized just how much details she was about to tell the boys there in the room. "Yeah, I remember that, but it seemed so farfetched."

"I know. That's how I felt when I met Lee."

"Okay, so what about your marriage?" Dotty asked. "Why did you keep that secret?"

"Yeah, Mom, why?" Jamie asked.

"It was a dumb move, I admit it," Lee said.

"You can say that again!" Philip muttered under his breath, which earned him a sharp look from his father.

"Well, we thought it would be best to not let you know, at least not at first until—" Amanda added.

"Until what, though?" Dotty asked.

"That's the part I'm not getting."

"Dotty, I just think they were afraid and that eventually, they were going to tell you," Joe said, trying to help them out.

"That is exactly it," Amanda said.

But instead of his comment helping, it seemed to make matters worse. Because then Dotty and the boys started asking more questions, talking virtually simultaneously, barely giving Lee or Amanda a chance even to speak.

Lee put his fingers in his mouth and made a whistling sound causing everyone to stop talking and turn his way. We are going to be here all day at this rate. Lee thought to himself.

Lee opened his mouth to speak; he heard the doorbell's sound, which caused Amanda and Lee to jump up at the same time.

"I'll get it!" Amanda said and rushed towards the door.

Amanda never thought she'd be so happy to see someone. "Hello, Sir! What are you doing here?"

"I know you said you would call me if you needed some help, but I was passing this way and truth be told, knowing how determined your mother can be, I figured you would need my help, so I came over just in case."

He leaned in and asked quietly, "How's it going?"

"It was going pretty well, but then we hit a snag. Everyone's asking questions at the same time and—"

"Just as I thought. Perhaps I can help," Billy said.

"Yes, Sir, please!"

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Thank you so much for reading my story.

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