Chapter 13

The next morning, Lee and Amanda walked into the dining room to find a breakfast buffet already set up. "Lee, look at all this food. I should've told Penny not to go to all this trouble. Especially since you don't eat breakfast."

"I didn't." They turned to see Penny and Rheza stroll in behind them. "The chef prepared this for us. I told him I didn't know what you liked for sure, so he just made a little of everything."

"It all looks delicious, but it's a lot of food for the three of us. So much of it will go to waste," Amanda conveyed.

"Don't worry, Amanda. Whatever we don't eat, they box up and take it down to the homeless shelter. The food will not be wasted," Rheza assured. "Let's just eat and enjoy this great meal."

Lee grabbed two coffee cups and filled them, adding sugar to one and cream to the other. He placed Amanda's in front of her and sat down. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"You're welcome." Lee nibbled on a roll and snagged a couple of slices of bacon from Amanda's plate, so he didn't hurt anyone's feelings. He then glanced across the table and added, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"My meeting at the UN isn't until one this afternoon, so we have all morning to do whatever we want. However, my meeting will last most of the afternoon. You ladies will be on your own."

Penny and Amanda smirked at one another, "Whatever will we do?" they jested.

Lee rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you'll find something to do."

Amanda brushed off Lee's comment. "I wish we could go to the Statue of Liberty. Too bad it's closed right now for renovations."

"We can't get on the island, but we can take a boat around it," Rheza offered.

"That would be lovely. What do you think, sweetheart?"

"Sounds good to me. Besides, we can always come back in a few years once the renovations are done. We can bring the boys with us. Who knows, there may even be another family member by then."

Amanda gazed sweetly into Lee's hazel eyes.

"Um, do you two have any other news you want to share with us?" Penny queried.

"Oh, no. Nothing right now," Amanda quickly responded.

"Nothing right now? Does that mean you will have some more news soon?"

Amanda's eyes went wide as she silently asked Lee for permission, and without hesitating, he answered her with a slight nod. "We have decided, after the wedding, we aren't going to try to have a baby specifically, but we won't be doing anything to stop it either. We're going to let nature run its course and see what happens."

"That's wonderful news. I'm so happy for you!" Both Penny and Rheza simultaneously smiled at one another. Penny covered Rheza's hand with hers and continued, "We are trying."

Lee and Amanda both perked up with excitement in their eyes. "That terrific news!" they chorused.

"Maybe, you'll have news to share with us at our wedding," Amanda beamed.

"We'll see. Speaking of your wedding, I thought maybe I could take you dress shopping while the guys are working this afternoon. I would love to take you to Kleinfeld's."

"Oh, no, Penny. Kleinfeld's is out of my price range. You have to book an appointment weeks in advance to even get in. And I can't go dress shopping without my mother."

"Amanda, relax. I've already called in a favor and got us an appointment at one. You don't have to buy one. We're just looking. Maybe try a few of them on. Come on, Amanda. It'll be fun."

"When did you make an appointment? We just told you yesterday."

"I called before we left for the museum. It's amazing what you can get into when you tell them you're a Princess. Please don't be upset with me."

"Penny, I'm not upset. Let me call Mother before we leave. I need to see how things are going with the boys, anyway."

A short time later, Amanda was on the phone. "Hello, Mother, it's me."

"Amanda, I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Mother. Everything's okay. I just wanted to check in before we got busy this morning."

"Amanda, dear. Something's wrong. We just talked yesterday, and I can hear it in your voice. I mean, not that I don't want to talk to you, but normally you're so busy that I don't hear from you so soon."

"I wanted to call to ask you something, and I don't know how you will feel about it. This afternoon we have a break from work, and Penny wants to take me dress shopping."

"Amanda, you certainly don't need my permission to go buy some clothes."

Amanda rolled her eyes as Lee slid up behind her and put his arms around her. Her free hand rested on his. "I know that. But she wants to take me shopping for a wedding dress."

"Oh. I see."

"I needed to check with you because I know you wanted to go with me. She's already made an appointment at Kleinfeld's. She surprised me with it this morning."

"Kleinfeld's? That place is exquisite. Amanda, you can't pass up this opportunity."

Lee nuzzled Amanda's neck and whispered in her ear, "I can't wait to see you in your wedding dress." He nipped her lower ear. "And then, take it off of you." Amanda sighed.

"Amanda, are you there? Hello?"

Amanda, startled by her mother, pushed Lee back with her elbow. "Yes, Mother, I'm here. I just got a little distracted." Lee brushed her hair off the right side of her neck with his left hand and leaned in again, placing soft kisses on her silky skin down to her shoulder. "Stop it!"

"Stop what, Amanda? All I said is you can't pass up the opportunity to shop at Kleinfeld's."

"No, I wasn't talking to you, Mother.

"Ah, I understand," Dotty spoke a little louder. "Son, will you please leave my daughter alone for two minutes so we can finish our conversation?"

Amanda and Lee chuckled, "Sorry, Mom." Lee hollered as he released Amanda and sat on the bed, trying to be patient while he waited for her to finish.

"Anyway. Are you sure you're okay with this, Mother? What if I find a dress I like? I mean, one I can afford."

"Then you should buy it, Amanda. A wedding dress is not something you think about, and go back a week later, hoping it's still on the rack. You'll know if it's the one as soon as you put it on. If that happens, then buy it."

"Well, alright then. Thank you for understanding. Kiss the boys from us, and we'll see you on Sunday."

"Okay, dear. Kiss that son of mine as well. See you then."

"I love you, Mother! Bye."

Amanda softly placed the receiver down and turned towards Lee. Amanda shook her finger, scolding him as she slinked closer. Lee placed his hands on her waist and pulled Amanda in tighter. "That was not very nice of you."

"What? Can't a man kiss the woman he loves on the neck?"

"He can, but not when she's talking to her mother, Buster. I completely lost my train of thought."

Lee smirked with both dimples on display. "Sorry."

Amanda swatted at his shoulder. "You are not." She bent down and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "We better get going, or we won't have time to take that boat ride."

"Yes, my love."

Later that morning, the four of them sat at the bow of their private yacht sailing around the Statue of Liberty. "Rheza, this is a beautiful yacht. How did you get it on such short notice?" Amanda wondered.

"I have a friend at the UN who owed me a favor. It's his."

"I would love to have this out on the open water." Amanda got up and placed her hand on the rail. "To feel the sea air on my face. There is no other feeling like it."

Lee, Penny, and Rheza glanced at one another in disbelief as Penny asked, "Amanda, I didn't know you sailed."

Amanda twisted back towards them. "Oh yeah, I helped sail a 55-foot catch across the Chesapeake once. I love to be on the water."

Lee stood and joined Amanda by the rail. "That's good to know. I like to sail as well. Just something else to put on our to-do list." He bent down to give her a quick kiss.

Amanda softly spoke, "You're rubbing off on Rheza." Lee questioned her comment with his eyes. Amanda pointed to their friends with a head nod.

Lee peered over and saw Rheza and Penny in an intimate kiss. "I'm happy for them. They're a great couple.

After a few quiet moments, Penny broke the silence. "As much as I'm enjoying this, we really should start heading back if we are to get some lunch and make our appointments this afternoon. You gentlemen need to change as well."

Rheza looked at his watch. "I didn't notice how late it was getting. It's so nice to finally get to relax and just be yourself every once in a while."

"You'll have to make sure you and Penny find time for yourselves when you get back to Zakir. Have a date night, just the two of you. No guards," Amanda stated.

"Most definitely," Penny acknowledged.