Chapter 18

"Mom, do you think we can make dinner with Lee tomorrow night?" Philip asked between bites of his hamburger. "I saw a new recipe in home economics class that I'd like to try before I actually do it in class. I want to do a good job on it, unlike the last recipe we made."

Amanda raised an eyebrow at her eldest son, but it was Jamie who teased, "You mean like studying before a test?"

Philip snapped his head in his brother's direction and glared at him silently. Lee covered his mouth to hide his snicker. "Jamie, that's not nice. I think your brother has been doing pretty well in school lately," he stated in a firm tone.

"Thanks, Lee. I have been trying harder because I only have two more years before college and I don't want to end up scrambling at the last minute," Philip admitted.

Amanda sighed softly before she asked, "Have you been thinking about which college you might want to go to yet?"

"Nah," Philip shook his head. "But the guidance counselors said we should start touring schools now, so by the time we do have to apply it won't be so stressful."

Lee wiped his mouth with his napkin and asked, "Have you thought about what you might want to study?"

Philip shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth to answer. "Girls," Jamie giggled beside him, earning an elbow to the ribs.

"I'm not sure yet, but I did see McKay's garage is looking for help. Do you think I could apply, Mom?" Philip turned to Amanda. "I really want to save up some money to get a car next year when I get my drivers' license."

Amanda blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. "I think getting a job could be a good thing but you have to keep your grades up," she replied with a shaky voice.

Lee dropped his napkin beside his dish and stated softly, "Amanda, can you and I talk in the other room?"

Philip snapped his head from Lee's direction to Amanda's. "I'm not in trouble, am I? I didn't do anything wrong today. I even got an eighty-four on my math test," he insisted.

"No, you're not in trouble, but I do need to talk to your mom for a minute before she makes a decision," Lee explained. Amanda sat still, fighting her emotions. She held her napkin to her mouth and blinked rapidly again.

Jamie stood, gave Amanda a squeeze and suggested, "Hey, Philip, let's go check and see if Grandma got all the mail earlier." Philip looked at him strangely but silently got up and followed his brother to the front door.

Lee immediately stood and walked around the table to where Amanda sat, "Hey, it's okay."

"He's going to college in a few years. When did my babies get so old?" Amanda cried softly, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

Lee reached up and wiped the wet line away, "It happens. But you'll have the girls to keep you on your toes, too." He put his arms around her and gave her a gentle hug. "You knew it was coming someday."

"But it feels too early," Amanda cried again.

"Well, maybe he'll want to live at home and commute to school. He doesn't even know what he wants to study, so we've got time," Lee assured her. He stroked her shoulder slowly and added, "At least he wants to start taking financial responsibility now. A job could be good for him."

Amanda took a stuttered breath, her tears slowing, "I guess."

Lee looked down at her once more, "Tell you what. I have a contact that works at McKay's. I'll have him keep an eye on Philip while he's there if that makes you feel any better."

"So, you think I should let him apply?" Amanda asked, her expressive brown eyes searching Lee's face for reassurance.

"I do. He's right, you know. He can put the money aside and start learning how to save for something. He's had a great teacher all these years, now, it's time for him to put what he's learned to the test," Lee reminded her.

Amanda gave him a weak smile, "Thanks. I don't know what's wrong with me today."

Lee gave her another squeeze and teased, "Hormones probably."

Amanda playfully hit his arm and admonished him, "Nice try, buster."

"I'm serious. It's probably the hormones," Lee stood and returned to his seat at the table. Amanda gave him a weak smile as the boys returned to the kitchen.

"Is it safe to come back now?" Philip asked tentatively.

"Philip, come here, sweetheart," Amanda requested. Philip did as he was asked, standing beside his mother. Amanda reached up and took his hand in hers. "I think…well, Lee and I think it would be good for you to get a job. But the minute your grades start to slip, you need to cut back your hours there. You promise?"

Philip nodded his head enthusiastically, "I promise!"

"Good, now give me a hug," Amanda instructed. She put her arms around her son and held him for several minutes before he finally released her. "Now, how about some of that pie your grandmother made this morning while Charlie was napping?"

"Did someone say pie?" Jamie's eyes widened.

Lee stood and began clearing their dinner dishes, "I think Dotty said it was cherry pie as she was getting ready to head out. But she did ask us to save her a piece for her tea tomorrow."

"Yeah, Grandma has a hot date tonight with some new guy she met at the bookstore yesterday," Philip informed Amanda.

Amanda shook her head, "What do you mean some new guy? I thought she was meeting Curt this afternoon after Charlie got picked up."

Philip shrugged his shoulders and stated, "I don't know. She just said she was looking for another book by Barbara Cartland or something like that and she spotted her very own Scott Crossfield waiting at the end of the aisle. She said she couldn't wait to seduce him with more than just blueprints."

Lee burst into laughter at his stepson, drawing strange looks from the rest of the family. "What? You don't know who Scott Crossfield is?" he sputtered. Amanda shook her head, confused while Philip and Jamie just stared at him. "Scott Crossfield was a Navy fighter pilot who flew all the prototypes of experimental X series sonic planes back in the forties and fifties. He had a reputation as a jinxed pilot. Half of his flights ended in near misses, but he was always up for the latest and greatest developments. He would scour all the newest blueprints as they were issued," Lee explained.

"Well, that doesn't explain who Mother is out with tonight," Amanda replied.

Lee laughed again, "She's out with Curt. Didn't she tell you he was going over the blueprints for the new Model C09A King Aire Beechcraft?"

Amanda blinked several times as Lee's words sunk in before her cheeks pinkened with color. She covered her mouth with her hand and gasped, "Oh!"

Lee coughed several times as he tried to catch his breath while Philip and Jamie stared at each other, completely confused. Amanda began giggling uncontrollably while Lee continued to laugh and cough until they were both breathless. Jamie rolled his eyes and groaned, "Grown-ups!"

Philip gave him and elbow and suggested, "Let's take our pie into the other room and watch TV. I heard there's a new episode of MacGyver on tonight."

Amanda finally got herself under control and reminded the boys, "Only if you're homework's finished, fellas."

"Done!" they stated in unison causing everyone to laugh once more.

"Okay, since your homework is finished, apparently, you guys can watch MacGyver but after that, it's lights out. It's a school night," Lee stated with a slight tilt of his head.

"Thanks, Lee," Jamie exclaimed as he yanked the refrigerator door open.

Amanda stood and arched her back slightly. "I think I'm going to head up and take a nice relaxing bath since you fellas seem to be all settled," she stated.

Lee narrowed his eyes at his wife and questioned, "Are you feeling all right?"

Amanda nodded her head to assure him, "I'm fine. I just need to relax a little before bed, that's all. A warm bath will help with that. I think my mind is whirling from everything we learned at work today."

"Okay then, I'll clean up down here and get the boys off to bed. I'll meet you up there," Lee replied.

Amanda gave him a smile and teased, "I'll be looking forward to it."