Mom, Secrets And More

Chapter 54

While Phillip and Jamie were having their dinner that evening, Amanda was upstairs getting ready for her date with Lee.

Dotty had come into the bedroom as Amanda had finished dressing and was in the midst of fixing her hair when Dotty asked her insistently, "What was all that downstairs about you meeting Mr. Stetson at the restaurant? Why can't he pick you up here? We don't bite, you know-"

Amanda nodded, trying to fix a curl that had gone askew, and answered with a sigh, "I-I know, Mother. But he had gone to work after Jamie and I left this morning, and I wanted to save him a trip. Besides, he-he was a bit intimidated by you when he first met you at the schoolyard-"

Dotty puzzledly asked, "Really? That's strange. I barely remember that day, except for being worried about Jamie-"

Amanda smiled as her curl cooperated, and with a final tease of her comb, she then added a light layer of hair spray remarking, "I know. I told him that as well. But he-"

Dotty shook her head commenting, "Young Lady, I can't believe he's never had to meet a date's family before! In any case, if your father were still here, you know he would insist on Mr. Stetson properly coming to take his daughter out-"

Amanda, applying her lipstick, finished and putting everything away in her bathroom cabinet, turned off the light and went to her dresser to put her lipstick and compact in her purse and grabbing her keys stated, "Y-Yes, Mother, I understand."

Looking at her watch then Amanda replied, "Look, can we discuss this later? I have to go now."

But as the two came to the landing at the top of the stairs, Dotty asked, "Well, just how serious are you two, anyway?"

Amanda shook her head commenting, "We're not...It's just an evening with a friend. A co-worker. That's all, okay?"

But Dotty, noticing her daughter's obviously new outfit and smelling a different perfume scent, stated with a shrug, "You could've fooled me. Oh, well, have a good time, Dear. Whatever this evening's about-"

And as they came down the stairs, they heard the boys begin to have an argument.

Phillip yelled, "Oh, when are you gonna grow up?! The guy's just being nice to you because you're Mom's baby-"

Jamie replied hotly, "You don't know anything! You weren't even there!"

Phillip retorted, "Well, at least I wasn't an idiot at school that day-"

Amanda and Dotty came into the kitchen with Amanda putting up a hand and stating firmly, "Boys! Stop it this instant! Now, what's going on?"

Phillip responded sullenly, "Junior here is having a little hero worship with that guy you're going out with tonight!"

Getting up from his chair at the kitchen table, Phillip shook his head answering, "It's been, "Lee" this, and "Lee" that. I'm sick of him bragging about the guy! He's been doing it all afternoon, Mom! I don't even know him, and I don't want to know him now!"

Amanda replied soothingly with a shake of her head, "Oh, Honey. He's just a friend-"

But Phillip sighed and remarked quietly, "Have a good time, Mom."

Leaving the kitchen, Phillip went to the family room couch, and sitting down, turned on the TV.

Clearing her throat, Amanda looked at Jamie and remarked firmly gesturing to the patio, "You and me. Outside...Let's go."

As Jamie got up slowly from his chair at the kitchen table and headed out the back door, Amanda paused to look at Phillip, but Dotty stated, "It's alright, Honey. I'll talk to Phillip. You're late enough as it is. Go talk to Jamie, hm?"

Looking at her watch, Amanda went to the phone commenting, "I'll just call the restaurant and let Lee know I'll be a bit late."

Finishing her conversation with Lee, she hung up and meeting Jamie outside at the picnic table sat down across from him and asked, "Alright. What's this all about?"

Jamie answered, "I can't help it if Phillip's jealous-"

Amanda remarked tiredly, "Young Man, I assumed you understood earlier today from Lee's and my discussion with you that our careers were secret-"

Jamie commented, "But I didn't say anything about that stuff. I just like the guy. What's wrong with that?"

Amanda, putting a hand on top of Jamie's, stated, "Nothing, Sweetie. Lee likes you as well, but it's unfair of you to go on about Lee when your grandmother and brother haven't gotten a chance to meet him yet, okay?"

Jamie nodded. "Alright. I'm sorry, Mom. So, why didn't Lee come to get you?"

Amanda sighed answering as she got up from the table, "Well, let's just say that it was a mistake on both our parts...C'mon, let's go back in."

When she and Jamie came back inside to the kitchen, Phillip was seated once more, finishing his dinner.

Amanda looked at Jamie and asked, "Jamie? Don't you have something to say to Phillip?"

Jamie nodded, and turning to Phillip, replied quietly, "I'm sorry, Phillip. It wasn't nice the way I was acting about Lee, but he has been nice to me. You and Grandma would like him. So, are we friends again?"

Phillip shrugged and as he glanced at Dotty, she nodded to him and he relented, answering, "Sure...I'll even let you have half of my peas-"

Amanda and Dotty smiled to one another as Amanda shook her head, "You both will eat every last bit of your own meals, understood?"

The boys then chimed, "Yes, Mom."

Amanda nodded, and looking at Dotty stated, "Okay, now that this is settled, I'm leaving. Oh, and I am going to have Mr. Stetson come back with me after our dinner, so that he can meet you and Phillip."

Dotty gave her a hug replying, "Good, Dear. I can't wait."

Amanda returning the hug, and giving one to the boys, said, "Oh, I know that, Mother...Goodnight."

And as Amanda left her driveway she shook her head thinking, Hope Lee has wine waiting for me...Whew!

TBC