Mom, Secrets And More

Chapter 43

At that moment, Amanda and Francine were in Billy's office, trying to get him to cancel the consultation with Dr. Pfaff, both claiming suddenly that they had decided to mend fences on their own.

But sitting at his desk, watching the two situated far apart at opposite sides of the room, Billy shook his head commenting, "Come on you two...We have to maintain a sense of professionalism here, and most of the time you've managed to coexist peacefully, but this was bound to happen eventually. I just wasn't sure when."

Amanda and Francine glared at one another, then turned to look at Billy who sighed, and focusing on Amanda, who was seated on the couch stated to her, " Amanda...You've done very well with us, considering the amount of work and traveling you've had and I can appreciate what you've had to endure over the last few years, but judging by what's happened today, I'm not at all surprised that you've begun to crack under the pressure-"

Amanda bewilderedly answered, "Sir, what pressure? I've managed to not only raise my two boys with my mother, but to maintain a career here-"

Francine chuckled sardonically, "Career? That's a stretch-"

Amanda retorted, "Oh? And I suppose you could run a household and manage a budget?"

Francine replied, "I do budget, but thanks to the Agency budget cut they made to my wardrobe a while back, I'm not able to buy new shoes or clothes nearly as often as I'd like to these days!"

There was a knock on Billy's office door then, and Billy impatiently stated, " Come in!"

Dr. Pfaff entered answering, "Mr. Melrose? You mentioned something about a consultation? With whom?"

Billy waved Dr. Pfaff in stating, "Thank you for coming, Dr. Pfaff."

Getting up from his desk to get him a chair, and placing it across from the couch remarked to Francine gesturing, "Desmond, go sit next to King. You two are going to make peace if it kills me!"

When everyone was seated where they should be finally, Billy headed for the door remarking gratefully, "I give you Exhibit A, and Exhibit F...I'll be back in a while. Have fun..."

Dr. Pfaff opened his mouth to say something, but before he could get it out, Billy was out the door!

As he left, Francine and Amanda shook their heads and Dr. Pfaff cleared his throat and replied, "Well, I wasn't expecting this-"

Francine quipped, "Not fun for us, either-"

Dr. Pfaff put up a hand hastily, "Wait...That's not what I'm saying here. I just don't understand what this could be about with the two of you. I-I mean, I just saw Amanda with her son Jamie, earlier."

Looking at Amanda, he asked, "How is he?"

Amanda sighed with a shrug and gestured to Francine with her thumb, "Ask Rona Barrett here..."

Dr. Pfaff looked quizzically at Francine and queried, "What happened?"

Sighing, Francine related the events as they unfolded up to their current moment, and listening, Dr. Pfaff responded, "I see. Do you know where Jamie might have gone?"

Amanda getting up from the couch, went to get a glass of water, and swallowing hard shook her head commenting quietly, "No. But he was pretty upset when he left."

Francine stated contritely, "Amanda, I am truly sorry for what happened, but at least he's with Lee. I'm sure he's fine."

Filling a glass with water, Amanda brought it back over to the couch, and taking a sip, swallowed and placed the glass on the table in front of them asking softly, "But will I be? How do I begin to fix this? And what do I tell the rest of my family? God, what a mess!"

-SMK-

Meanwhile, Lee and Jamie arrived at Rock Creek Park and as Lee pulled into a parking space and turned off the motor, he asked as they unbuckled their seat belts, " Do you want anything to drink? They have a stand nearby-"

But Jamie shook his head. "No, thanks, Mr. Stetson."

Clearing his throat, Lee remarked carefully, "You know, I think by now after everything we've gone through lately, that you should start calling me Lee. How about it?"

Jamie was perplexed. "But I'm a kid, and you're an adult-"

Lee shook his head. "No, I'm Lee, and you're Jamie. We're pals here, right? I'm giving you permission to call me by my first name. It's not disrespectful if I tell you it's okay. All right?"

Jamie half smiled. "Okay. Thanks."

Lee winked and gestured as they exited the car, "You bet. C'mon, let's go stretch our legs..."

As they got out and shut the doors, Lee locked the car and they began walking slowly towards a clearing with a footbridge.

Jamie at one point stopped at the footbridge to look down at the water below and shaking his head sadly stated, "I-I can't believe all this time Mom has been lying about who she is, and what she is-"

Lee joining him on the footbridge put up a hand. "Ho-Hold on, Jamie. What do you mean?"

Jamie gulped answering, "She always told Phillip and me to never lie if we do something wrong, even if it hurts! I'll-I'll never trust her again!"

Lee sighed and asked, "Jamie, calm down and just tell me. Did something else happen? I mean, other than today?"

Jamie nodded as he painfully recalled, "It was the other day at home... I went with my friend Justin to the store to get some football cards, and I overheard some guy in line at the checkout who was talking to a friend of his saying, "There's no way Mrs. King could've pulled off that heist we heard about, anyway. She doesn't even carry a gun. The only reason she's still there is because Scarecrow's got clout."

Lee swallowed hard thinking, Damn! Must have been two of their security people that Billy still had assigned to Amanda's house. He'd have to find out who they were, and tell them to keep their traps shut!

He then realized Jamie was still talking to him as he felt a nudge to his side with Jamie saying loudly, "Hey, Lee! Are you even listening to me?!"

Lee shook his head distractedly and apologizing answered, "I'm-I'm sorry, Jamie. Look, I happen to know that your mom loves you all, and wouldn't lie unless it was for a good reason."

Jamie shook his head fuming, "Dad and Grandma say there's never a good reason."

Lee sighed, realizing now that he had to be straight with Jamie. He'd talked earlier that morning with Billy, saying he'd do anything he could to help Amanda.

Billy, knowing that Jamie had already been through the wringer enough with Lee agreed, cautioning Lee to only reveal to the boy what was absolutely necessary at this point.

Lee focusing on Jamie once more responded carefully, "Jamie, remember when your mom was seeing someone a few years ago? She mentioned his name once-Dan, I think?"

Jamie, correcting Lee, shrugged. "Dean? What about him?"

Lee clearing his throat continued with a chuckle and said lightly, "Um, right... Anyway, she was dropping him off at the train one day, and when she was heading back to her car, I met up with her to ask her to help me with something..."

TBC