Truth Be Told

Chapter 2

As Amanda was about to explain about the vacation departure delay for her and Jamie, Dotty put up her hand. "Wait, Darling. I already know about Jamie's kidnapping. I mean, that's why he and Lee were in the hospital, right?"

Amanda shook her head stating, "No, Mother, that was later. I'm talking about when Jamie was feeling better from his flu. I absolutely made sure that Jamie's temperature was back to normal before deciding we would head to Uncle Herman's the next day...See, I made us both hot chocolate before we turned in. We went to bed, but somehow during the night, some people came inside and took us out of the house, and when we woke the next morning, we found ourselves in a cabin-"

Phillip asked, "Whoa! You mean you were both kidnapped?"

Amanda replied with a shrug, "Yes, Sweetheart. Somehow, we were drugged. We-We didn't know where we were or how it happened-"

Dotty put up a hand again to ask Lee, "Just a minute. Didn't you even know where Amanda was at the time, Lee?"

Lee, clearing his throat responded with a shake of his head, "Not at first, Mrs. West. You see, Amanda did tell our boss, Mr. Melrose, about the trip you all planned, but we never got word that the plans had changed. We thought all of you were together and already on your trip. But he told me the next morning that it was strange you had called then, wondering if we had heard from Amanda and that you mentioned it wasn't like her to not be in touch with you, since you were waiting to hear from her."

Amanda shook her head sadly at Dotty, "That's right, I did tell you I would call, Mother. I should've called you before going to bed that night, but I wanted to make sure Jamie was still alright in the morning so we could leave after all. I dunno. Maybe this whole thing could've been avoided somehow-"

Jamie piped up, "Mom, it's not your fault. You didn't know they were gonna spike the cocoa-"

Dotty bewilderedly answered as she glanced at her grandson, "Spike the cocoa? Really, Jamie! That only happens in movies. Anyway, your mother usually locks the doors, and-"

Amanda sighed with a nod, "I did lock the doors, Mother, but they got into the house anyway."

Dotty asked, "But you didn't hear anything? Goodness, I should think you'd hear from upstairs if someone were trying to-"

Jamie agitated by now responded quickly, " Grandma! They did get in here somehow and they did take us! They held Mom and me in the cabin and we tried to escape! Why don't you believe us?!"

Amanda quickly came over to Jamie to try to soothe him worriedly answering, " Shh...Hush, Sweetheart. Grandma does believe us, but she's just trying to understand, that's all. Please calm down, huh?"

Phillip, seeing Jamie's reaction swallowed and asked, "Mom? What about the police? Couldn't they do anything?"

Lee interjected, "IFF alerted the police after your grandmother called, Phillip, and they asked me and a couple of our co-workers to help in the search, only because we know your mom so well."

Dotty, astounded by the story queried crisply to Amanda, "I see. Well, why didn't anyone try to contact me anyway, hmm? Phillip and I would've been home long before any of this mess started, and-"

Jamie responded shakily to Dotty, "I don't believe you, Grandma! You really think this was Mom's fault, don't you?"

Dotty shook her head as she looked at Jamie surprisedly. "Of-Of course not, Darling. I do, however, think that there may have been a better way to handle it, that's all-"

Jamie, upset by his grandmother's words answered in a hurt tone, getting up from the couch, "There wasn't, Grandma! Mom and I couldn't call anyone, not you, or even Lee! We were on our own out there!"

Jamie gulped suddenly and looking at his mother asked, "Mom, can I go upstairs now? I'm really tired."

Amanda, seeing that Jamie had enough of this discussion gave him a hug responding softly, "Sure, Honey. You go on to bed, and I'll be up in a while, huh?"

Jamie nodded and as he headed for the stairs, Lee swallowed thinking, Poor kid...He then concernedly replied, "Night, Jamie."

As Jamie disappeared up the stairs, Dotty shook her head querying to Amanda, " Dear, I'm sorry I upset Jamie, but what did he mean, Lee? He's a filmmaker, like you are. How could Lee have helped?"

Amanda and Lee looked at one another thinking, Here we go...

Amanda then swallowed and commented, "Well, actually..."

TBC