Chapter FIVE - A little house in Arlington
Flashback to the day of Jennifer's wedding day
Francine Desmond walked towards Jennifer's bedroom door and knocked ever so slightly. She opened it and peeked in. Jennifer wasn't in her bed and Francine could hear someone in the bathroom. She walked over to the door and saw Jennifer slumped on the floor leaning against the wall. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing slowly. Francine bent down and wiped the hair off of Jennifer's face.
"Hey Princess. Did you drink too much last night? What's going on?"
Jennifer opened her eyes and looked at her Aunt. Jennifer smiled at her and asked her to help get her standing. Francine wrapped her arm around Jennifer and they walked back into the bedroom. Jennifer sat down and sighed. "Oh Aunt Francine. I am okay. I might as well tell you….I am pregnant…..with twins."
Francine slumped down next to Jennifer. She looked at her and with tears in her eyes. "Are you serious? Please dont lie to me like that! Are you really pregnant?" Jennifer nodded." I found out the other day. They confirmed it….twins. Can you beat that? I haven't told Matthew about the twin part yet. He knows that I am pregnant and he couldn't be happier about it. I know that this is going to put a kink on my active duty status for a bit but I promise I won't put myself in any danger and I can be the research part of things. Jamie can handle being out in the field alone for a while. And then I have to figure out who's gonna watch the babies when I go back to work…"
Francine put her hand up to stop Jennifer's ramble. "Damn girl. Can you just breathe every now and then? I swear I think that the rambling you get from your mother gets worse with each generation! Your kids are gonna be ungodly!" She smiled at Jennifer and put her arm around her. "Now, I am thrilled that you are going to have a baby….well babies in your case! This is exciting news! I have babies to spoil rotten and your father can't say anything about it!" Francine looked at Jennifer "Speaking of your father….what has he said about all of this?"
Jennifer giggled and leaned into Francine's embrace. "Oh Aunt Francine….I haven't told him yet! Mum knows of course…but I don't know how I am going to tell Daddy. He was a basket case when Stacy and Katlyn were pregnant.…I can't imagine how he will be with me."
Both ladies laughed at the thought of Lee Stetson being a grandfather again. Francine stood up and took Jennifer's hand. "Well, we have plenty of time to worry about all of that later. Let me work my magic and get you bridal ready!"
Jennifer hugged her godmother tightly. "Thank you Aunt Francine…for everything. You mean so much to me. I am so glad you are in my life. And you have my back."
Francine kissed her forehead. "You are a Stetson…and a King. I realized a long time ago that it was always meant for me to be in your life. One way or another. You know that I will always have your back. Your parents taught me that. So let's get you ready….future Mrs. Smyth!"
Francine took Jennifer's arm and they headed back to the bathroom to get Jennifer all ready for her wedding.
************************** Matthew, Jamie and Phillip were sitting in Lee's office trying to relax. Lee went to go get a special bottle of scotch he was saving for the day Jennifer got married. He wanted to share it with his sons and Jennifer's future groom. As Lee walked back up the stairs from the wine cellar he almost ran into Dr. Smyth, Matthew's grandfather.
"Where's the fire Scarecrow? Don't want your stuffing singed, do you?"
Lee chuckled and smiled at Dr. Smyth. Lee's opinion of the older agent had softened in the year since Beamon tried to ruin his family. Knowing that Jennifer and Matthew were getting married helped Lee realize that everyone can change. Even Austin Smyth.
"Well, sir, I have a very special bottle of scotch that I was planning on sharing with Matty and my boys. Would you like to join us? The menfolk of this family have to stick together and in just a little while….you are a permanent part of our family."
Dr. Smyth grinned at Lee. "I never thought in a million years that Scarecrow would willingly offer me a drink….as well as welcome me into his family."
Lee again chuckled "Wonders never cease to amaze me….come on. The boys are in my study. Amanda kicked all of us out of the rest of the house. We have been banished to my office."
The two older men walked into the study as Jamie and Phillip King were laughing. Matthew was standing by the window looking out at the backyard where he would be marrying Jennifer Stetson in a little while.
Lee smiled at his sons and asked "What's so funny Chief?" as he glanced towards Phillip. Jamie and Phillip looked at one another and started laughing. Jamie composed himself and told Lee. "Oh we were telling Matty all about how Grandma thought you were an eleven….that story never gets old!"
Lee rolled his eyes and he shrugged his shoulders at Dr. Smyth. He offered Austin a seat as he went to get some glasses for everyone. Matthew turned around and smiled at his grandfather.
"Well, Grandfather. It's almost time for me to run off and get married."
Austin Smyth puffed away on one of his cigarettes and huffed. "It's about time you married that girl. I knew from the moment I met Munchkin that you would be perfect for one another. Speaking of which…I have something for the two of you."
Matthew protested and Dr. Smyth shook his hand at Matthew. "Nonsense. This is something that I have been waiting to give to the two of you for a very long time." He handed Matthew an envelope. Lee walked over to the guys and handed them all a glass with scotch. Lee looked at Matthew. "What is it, Matty?"
Matthew opened the envelope and gasped "Oh My Gosh!" Lee, Jamie and Phillip all looked at one another and smiled, each knowing that was what Amanda would say. Matthew looked up at his grandfather and said "Are you serious about this? This is…there aren't words. How?"
Austin Smyth laughed and said "Oh Matthew, I am a spy…or at least I was….I have my ways."
Lee shook his head and Matthew looked at Lee. "Mr. Stetson, it's a house. For Jennifer and I. Grandfather bought us a house."
Lee took the papers from Matthew and looked over them. Lee saw the address of the house and he immediately looked at Dr. Smyth.
"How? What? Are you serious Austin? I don't know what to say…."
Jamie jumped up off the couch and grabbed the papers. Phillip walked over to Jamie and they looked at the paperwork as well. They smiled as they noticed the address. Jamie snorted and said "WOW…when you say you have your ways…you really do. Don't you?" He looked at Lee. "I thought you and Mom sold this years ago?"
Lee sat down on the chair that he was standing in front of. "We did." Austin looked at Lee and smirked "You sold that house to me. I still had a few secrets up my sleeve. I in turn kept it under Agency wraps and it was used as a safe house for a couple of years. Call me an old-fashioned romantic at heart….but once I saw that Jennifer and Matthew were together...well, I wanted my great grandchildren to be raised in a home that is just as much a part of this family as the one we are sitting in." He puffed at his cigarette again and winked at Matthew. "When you and Jennifer get back I suspect we all will be chipping in to get 4247 Maplewood ready for the next generation."
Lee looked at Dr. Smyth and then Matthew. Matthews' eyes were wide open and he chuckled. "Well, that wasn't how I wanted Mr. Stetson to find out! Thanks Grandfather!"
************************* Lee Stetson held on to his wife as they danced. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes as they swayed to the music. Amanda looked up at him. "You seem happy. Are you?"
Lee snickered. "You know what…I am 'Manda. Our kids are all here and they are okay. Our grandkids are as well….its something I always dreamed about. This house….our life. I guess I never really thought that we could have it all."
Amanda reached up and gave him a soft kiss. "Oh Lee. We did have it all….the softball games in the backyard, the horses…all of it. Our kids are doing fine. Weddings tend to make us think of our past. Remember what I told Joe years ago….I want to go forward. It's gonna be a great future. We have so much to be thankful and grateful for."
"How right you are Mrs. Stetson. So…"
Amanda looked at Lee. "So…what? Is there something you want to tell me, Stetson?"
Lee laughed as he leaned down to kiss his wife. She wrapped her arms around his neck. When they broke apart, Lee grinned at his wife. His dimples coming out in full force. "So, when were you going to tell me about Jennifer?"
Amanda looked at him with her brown eyes open wide. "Whatever do you mean sweetheart?"
"Don't try and be cute with me Amanda. I can see it all over your face." He kissed her nose. "Austin bought the kids a house as a wedding present. He let it slip out that there will be additions….what exactly does that mean?"
Amanda giggled against Lee's chest. "Oh sweetheart. Jennifer is going to have a baby…well…she's pregnant… with twins." She looked up to see Lee's reaction. His eyes were wide and a huge grin crept on his face. He squeaked out "Twins?" Amanda nodded. Lee held her tighter and laughed. "Well, Mrs. Stetson, it looks like our family is definitely getting bigger."
She sighed "I know. Where is this house?"
Lee wagged his eyebrows and kissed her nose again. "Well, it's in Arlington. A really nice quiet street in the suburbs. No one would ever expect spies living there."
Amanda stopped dancing with Lee and put her hands on his chest. "Arlington? Can you be more specific?"
"Um…I think the address was….4247 Maplewood Dr. Ever hear of it?"
Amanda opened her mouth in shock and threw her arms around her husband. They both laughed and hugged one another. Lee looked out at the crowd and made eye contact with Jamie. Jamie motioned for Lee to come talk to him. He kissed Amanda and said that Jamie wanted to talk to him. Amanda walked over to Francine and the newly married couple as Lee made his way towards Jamie.
"What's going on, Sport?"
"I have to go Dad. Something is happening at Lewisburg. I won't leave until after the reception. But I may need you on this. I will let you know, okay.?"
Lee took a deep breath. He put his arm around Jamie's shoulder and said "You got it Sport. You keep me posted and if you need anything. Call me."
Jamie nodded and went back to go dance with his daughter. Lee walked over to Amanda and whispered in her ear.
"Something is happening with Beamon. Jamie is heading back up there after the reception. I think you may be right about all of this. He's not finished. He plans to finish what he started. We have to keep our family safe."
Amanda hugged Lee and nodded that she understood. She closed her eyes as she thought that they were never going to catch a break. Getting out of the spy business wasn't going to be easy.