Mom, Secrets And More

Chapter 46

As Lee and Jamie sat concentrating on their lunch that afternoon, Jamie asked while chewing, "So, how did you know I liked Sweet and Sour Pork and egg rolls?"

Lee put up a hand and responded sternly, "Hey! You know better than to talk with your mouth full! Finish your bite and swallow, please, and then I will answer you, alright?"

Jamie shook his head as he took a drink of his water and swallowed. Setting his glass down commented, "Man, you sound just like Mom! Sure you don't have any kids?"

At one time, the thought of having kids would have not even been a thought to him but now, well who knows what the future held? Maybe.

Realizing that Jamie was staring at him expectantly, Lee answered, "No, I don't have any kids, and the reason I know what Chinese food you like is because I talk to your mom on occasion at work. We even have lunch together sometimes. She told me, okay?"

Then looking at the half-eaten portions on their plates, Lee asked, "Do you want any more? I could heat up some more?"

But Jamie yawned slowly and shaking his head said, "No. Thank you, Lee, but I'm full."

Lee smiled and stood up, gesturing towards the living room and remarked with a wink, "You're welcome...Tell you what. Why don't you go stretch out on the couch and let me put this stuff away in the fridge, huh? Maybe later we can have the fortune cookies."

As Lee began taking the plates and headed out to the kitchen, Jamie replied, " Nah. I'm not tired..."

"Suit yourself," Lee said and turned to head toward the kitchen.

But a few minutes later after putting the food away, Lee found Jamie in the chair still with his head back and his eyes closed.

With a knowing smile, Lee scooped Jamie up carefully from the chair, turned towards the couch, but then thinking better of it, took Jamie into the bedroom and laid the boy out on the bed.

Taking off Jamie's shoes, he then grabbed a light blanket from the closet, and covering Jamie with it stated softly, "Chinese food does that to me all the time, Pal. See you in a bit."

Leaving the bedroom door open a crack, Lee went back to cleaning up the dining room and putting the plates and untensils in the dishwasher.

When everything was tidied up about a half hour later, Lee went back to the living room and turned on the TV to find something to watch until Jamie woke up.

As he continued to change channels, he shook his head, finally deciding to shut it off. Mindless junk on, anyway he thought... Days Of Our Lives and other soap operas?! Give me a break! Can't believe stuff like that is even on today! But then, he was usually at work around this time of the day.

Lee, then reflecting on the situation with Jamie, wondered after all if being around him was doing more harm than good. Judging by the boy's reaction at learning of his mother's career, he knew it would take time for Jamie to adjust to the circumstances. And although he had come to care for Jamie, Lee thought Jamie would heal faster emotionally by not being reminded of what they went through together.

Shrugging, he got one of his western novels that he was only halfway through reading the other night from the coffee table and began to read from where he left off, when suddenly he heard Jamie cry out from the bedroom, "Stop! Where are you taking my mom?! Get away from her! Mom!"

Lee sprang up from the couch and hurrying into the bedroom, found Jamie thrashing in the bed crying, "Mom! Come back! Mom! Where are you, Mom?!"

Lee swallowed hard, came over to the bed and stated urgently to Jamie as he sat down and tried to grab a hold of him, "Hey, Jamie...It's me, Lee! Relax, Pal! I'm right here...Shh."

As Jamie struggled against Lee who finally got a hold on him, he was hitting him on the chest crying, " Stop it! Where's Mom?! I want Mom! Where did she go?! Mom!"

Then he was sobbing uncontrollably, and Lee grabbed his phone on the nightstand and quickly dialed Billy's extension at the Agency.

When Billy answered, "Melrose." Lee asked urgently, "It's Lee! Is Amanda still there?"

Billy replied concerned by Lee's tone, "Yes, she's out in the bullpen with Francine getting coffee. Everything all right with Jamie? What's going on?"

Lee answered with a gasp as he stroked Jamie's back trying to soothe him, "He's-He's had another nightmare! A really bad one this time. I-I can't seem to calm him down. Tell Amanda to get over here and bring Pfaff with her now!"

Billy answered firmly, "You got it!"

Hanging up, he quickly got up from his desk chair and going to his office door and opening it, saw Amanda by the coffee machine and remarked quickly, "Amanda! You need to go to Lee's immediately and bring Dr. Pfaff with you! It's Jamie!"

Amanda putting down her coffee cup down commented, "Oh, my gosh! Was it a nightmare, Sir?"

Billy stated, "Yes. Lee can't seem to calm him down. You'd better hurry."

Amanda nodded, "Yes, Sir."

Then looking around she asked, "Where did I leave my purse?"

Francine put up a hand. "In the office...I'll get it."

As she went in to get it, Billy saw Dr. Pfaff at the elevator and called to him, "Hold it, Dr. Pfaff. You need to go to Scarecrow's place with Amanda. Apparently, Jamie's had another nightmare."

Dr. Pfaff gestured answering, "But I was just on my way to get a fudgesicle. Perhaps I could bring some for everyone?"

Billy sighed irritatedly responding, "Forget it! There's no time for that! Get going!"

Francine, bringing out Amanda's purse, handed it to her saying, "I hope Jamie's okay."

Amanda remarked, "Thank you. I hope so, too...And you and I are good, right?"

Francine half-smiled. "No worries. We're fine. See you later."

As Amanda and Dr. Pfaff got into the elevator and the doors closed, Dr. Pfaff asked, "What sort of nightmare was it? What happened?"

Amanda shook her head. "I don't know. I didn't talk to Lee, but all Mr. Melrose said was that I needed to bring you with me to Lee's."

Dr. Pfaff nodding, commented, "All right. Let me stop by my office then, and-"

Amanda sighed stating firmly, "No! No ice cream! Please! We have to go-"

Dr. Pfaff replied, "I just want to get a sample of a mild sedative for Jamie."

Amanda answered, "Oh, all right...But we have to stop at the store after that-"

Dr. Pfaff bewilderedly asked, "What for? You just said no ice cream-"

Amanda calmly responded, "Milk-"

Dr. Pfaff was confused. "Milk?"

Amanda nodded. "Milk. Lee doesn't have milk at his place. He doesn't like milk, but I need it for Jamie."

Dr. Pfaff was beginning to have a headache as he asked, "A glass of milk? Couldn't we try talking to him instead?"

Amanda tried hard to be patient with Dr. Pfaff as they reached the floor where his office was and got out of the elevator replying in a mini ramble, "Dr. Pfaff. The sedative is a good idea , but I need to warm the milk up and then you add the sedative to calm him down, and then I sing to him."

Dr. Pfaff looking warily at Amanda remarking, "Sing? Well, I suppose we could try that, but he's not a baby anymore. He may not react well to our harmony-"

Amanda shook her head tiredly as she pointed to herself explaining quickly, "Dr. Pfaff! I meant me! I'm his mother! I will sing to him solo! You just provide the sedative for the milk! Talking will come later. Got it?!"

Dr. Pfaff put up a hand and nodded replying, "All right...Wait here. I'll be right back."

Amanda sighed and nodding answered, "Thank you. Please hurry."

And as she watched him leave, Amanda reluctantly thought there just might be some truth to Lee saying Dr. Pfaff was strange...How did Lee put it again? "A quack"?

As Dr. Pfaff went towards his office he murmured, "When I get back here to the office tonight, I will look into scheduling my immediate vacation..."

TBC