Strained Impairments

Chapter 2

Once released from Galilee Hospital that afternoon, Lee and Amanda took a cab over to his place to gather his things to take to Amanda's.

While Lee was packing, Amanda took it upon herself to clean out his refrigerator since he'd be away for a while, and once opening it, made a face, and began taking everything out to thoroughly clean the appliance!

Shaking her head as she threw away old takeout cartons and bad cheese, she thought, How does anyone live like this?!

Amanda continued tossing items into the trash, while saying aloud to herself, "He could be growing penicillin here," then, realizing she still had no voice, thought, Ugh!

Once she threw away a good portion of the refrigerator items, she looked under the sink in the cabinet for cleaning items, and only finding Drano, and some Comet cleanser, and a sponge, she again shook her head. Good Lord, she thought bewilderedly. Thought he had a cleaning person in once a week? Doesn't he ever shop at a store?! What is wrong with him, anyway?!

Shrugging, she set to work with the sponge, hot water and the Comet cleanser, and within half an hour, got it sparkling clean again!

Lee came out of his bedroom with his things packed, and said aloud, "Almost ready, Amanda. I just have to get the fish ready to go..."

He stopped as he noticed a strange smell in the kitchen, and going towards the kitchen stated with a shake of his head, "Oh, no! Tell me you didn't-"

And as he entered, sure enough, he saw everything neat and tidy, and a full trash bag ready to go, and glaring at Amanda, asked, "What the hell did you do?!"

Opening his fridge, he exploded as he asked, "Where did all my good food go?! I had expensive cheese, and a good Chinese takeout I was going to eat tonight!"

Amanda sighed and on scratch paper she had with her and a pen, she wrote, "The cheese had mold! And your takeout was worse!"

Lee read the note and shook his head commenting with a gesture, "You have to learn to work around your food, Amanda! You see some mold, you cut around it, and the rest is still good-"

Amanda shook her head disgustedly and wrote, "The egg rolls even had some white stuff around it! That's mold, Mister!"

Lee, leaning against the kitchen counter frustratedly, shook his head and queried crisply, "So, is this how it's gonna be at your house? Food regulations and such? I was thinking of cooking a few dishes I thought you might like, but now, I'm not so sure-"

Amanda wrote quickly, "Like that Wok dish you made when you had to fake being dead?"

Lee read it grinning and said, "Yeah. I also thought it would give you a break from cooking every night. We'd take turns. Okay?"

Amanda nodded, writing, "Alright. Thank you. So, are we ready to go now?"

Lee read her question, and nodded gesturing to the living room, "Yeah, just one last thing..."

As they walked out of the kitchen into the living room, Lee pointed to the fish tank stating, "Gotta pack up my men-"

Immediately, Amanda shook her head quickly and gave Lee a time out signal!

Lee shrugged asking, "What's your problem? I'll be taking care of them-"

Amanda wrote quickly, "Where in the Sam Hill would you put them?!"

Lee sighed replying, "In the den, where I'll be staying of course. Unless you want them in the family room-"

Amanda shook her head furiously writing, "No! No fish!"

Lee responded putting his hands up angrily as he went to sit on the couch after reading her answer, "Okay! No fish, no me! I'm not going back and forth just to feed them! C'mon! It's not like a dog or something where you have to walk them!"

Amanda groaned inwardly, and as Lee looked at her frustrated expression, he commented shrugging offhandedly, "Alright...If you want them to die..."

Amanda rolled her eyes, knowing a guilt trip when she heard one, and wrote, "Fine! We'll take them to the house! But just remember the last time I was around them, I was kidnapped!"

Lee seeing what she wrote, shook his head grinning as he answered, "That was an accident, and I saved you, okay? Besides, it won't happen again."

Amanda wrote, "Promises, promises..."

Lee laughed stating with a gesture, "C'mon," as they got to work packing up the fish and tank, which took a little time, but then when they were finally ready, Lee asked, "Okay, how do we call for a cab?"

Amanda wrote, "I'll dial, and you talk."

But between the two of them, they found it harder than they thought, so Lee got his doorman to make the call and also help them with the luggage and fish items.

The cab arrived within a half hour, and the driver helped Lee and Amanda load the trunk, asking, "Where to, Mister?"

Lee stated, "4247 Maplewood Drive in Arlington."

The driver nodded as he shut the trunk, and Lee and Amanda got in the back seat, with Amanda holding the water filled bag with Lee's "men", as he liked to call them.

And as they made their way to Amanda's home she couldn't help but think how crazy this whole plan was!

Of course, she didn't want anything to happen to Lee, but he was essentially moving into her house. And not just for a night, either! Whatever possessed me to do this, she thought, panicking.

Lee's thoughts were about the same as he was thinking with a shake of his head, I've lost my mind here! I've always been a loner to come and go as I please, but how do I do this? I have to share space that isn't my own, and do a normal thing like live with someone!

Shrugging, he thought, A case with Amanda is one thing. We handled Betsy Ross Estates okay, but this?! Her house, her food, her rules?! Thank God her family wasn't home right now! I can't deal with that!

And with a glance at one another, they half smiled thinking, Hope we make it...

TBC