Disclaimer: "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" is the property of Warner Bros. and Shoot the Moon Prod. No copyright infringement is intended.
Lee Stetson had made the familiar drive between Georgetown and a particular house in Arlington more times than he could possibly calculate. He'd made the trip in a myriad of moods, and with varying degrees of urgency to reach his destination quickly.
Today, however, he was in no rush to get there. He'd left IFF over an hour before most commuters would be making their drive back to the D.C. suburbs and he was sailing along at a good clip. With the turnoff for Amanda's neighborhood fast approaching, Lee's large hands subconsciously gripped the Vette's steering wheel more tightly than was necessary.
Uggh, I'm actually driving at the speed limit. What's wrong with me?
He glanced at the car's empty passenger seat and grimaced. She wasn't with him, and she wouldn't be waiting to greet him when he arrived at the house that he now thought of as home-even though he didn't live there.
Damn secret marriage! What was I thinking when I came up with that idea?
Pulling onto Maplewood Drive, he slowed the car to a crawl as he neared 4247, and noted that the driveway was empty. He exhaled and loosened his grip on the steering wheel. His knuckles had turned white and his palms had grown clammy. No one was home, he'd been granted a temporary reprieve. He followed his customary path towards the back door as he contemplated how he would tell their family, and in his heart they'd become his family even if they didn't know about the secret marriage, that Amanda wouldn't be coming home to them as expected. It wouldn't be an easy conversation to have with them, but it was one that he had no intention of ducking.
To be continued…
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