Truth Aftermath
Chapter 9
It was 11 P.M. that evening, after Lee had told Amanda about his talk with Joe, and naturally, she insisted on going to confront Joe at his hotel to set things straight once and for all!
So after helping Amanda on with her coat, Lee guided Amanda to the front door, when suddenly, they were stopped by Dotty, who came down the stairs asking in a whisper, "Amanda, just what is going on? And where do you think you're going at this hour, Missy?"
Amanda sighed, glancing at Lee, answering, "It's alright, Mother. We're going to see Joe. There are things we need to straighten out. I'll be back soon. Please don't worry-"
Dotty shook her head as she went to try to remove Amanda's coat stating with a shake of her head, "Nonsense, Dear! You're not dressed warm enough to be out now, anyway. Besides, you can call him in the morning...Now, c'mon, I'll help you get to bed-"
But Amanda shook her head, and grabbing Dotty's hands, commented firmly, "No, Mother! Joe is leaving in the morning. I'm going to see him, so please let go of me, alright? I'll be fine."
Then seeing the hurt on her mother's face, Amanda kissed her cheek answering softly, "I know you're worried, and I love you for that, but Lee's with me, okay? I'll be back soon..."
When they left, Dotty shook her head muttering as she went back upstairs to her room, "What on earth can't wait until morning? And why couldn't she call him?"
-SMK-
As they drove to the D.C. Hilton, Amanda noticed Lee's tense demeanor, and asked carefully, "Are you alright, Sweetheart?"
Lee, glancing at Amanda, shrugged, answering as he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles showing white, "Sure...I tell you that I handled things with Joe, and it's over, but no! You have to go see him-"
Amanda shook her head and swallowed hard as some pain hit her while she was trying to get comfortable in the passenger seat!
As the moment passed, she remarked slowly with a sigh, "Honey, I know you're worried, but Joe and I need to clear the air about some things, obviously. Things we definitely can't say over the phone, you know?"
Lee deeply sighed, and reaching over with his right hand to take her left hand, kissed it and answered gently, "Okay...I'm new at this marriage stuff, so what do you need me to do?"
With a faint smile, Amanda replied, "Well, when we reach Joe's room, you follow my lead, just like I do with you when we're on a case, alright?"
Lee, looking over at her, gave her an encouraging wink and squeezing her hand gently responded, " Okay...You're the boss..."
Amanda, returning the squeeze, commented with a grin, "And don't you forget it, Mister!"
Lee chuckled as they continued the drive to the Hilton Hotel, and upon arrival, Lee pulled the Wagoneer up to the entrance to help Amanda out.
As Lee came around to the passenger side to help her, Amanda shook her head answering, "Sweetheart, I would've been okay wherever you parked-"
But Lee stated firmly guiding her carefully out of the car, "No way, Honey! It's gonna take time for you to recover. I know the doctor said a little exercise is okay, but we don't want to overdo it, huh?"
Amanda kissed him as he got her to the door responding, "Thank you, Sweetie...Now, I'll go to the desk and find out what room Joe's in, but don't worry. I'll wait for you to park, alright?"
Lee nodded stating as he went back to the car, "Be back in a minute..."
Amanda then went to the front desk after getting inside, asking the hotel clerk, Millie, "Excuse me. I'm looking for Joe King's room, please?"
Millie queried, "May I have your name? I'll ring his room and let him know he has a visitor."
Just then, the phone rang, and Millie stated, "Excuse me a moment...," and speaking to the caller answered, "Hilton Hotel. This is Millie speaking. How may I help you this evening?"
Lee noticed that when Millie turned her back for a moment deep in conversation concerning a bill payment, Amanda had quickly scanned the desk, and finding the hotel registry that was laying on the opposite side of the desk, perused it a moment, then quickly motioned to Lee to get the elevator!
A few moments later, Millie had hung up, and then noticed Amanda was no longer there!
Shrugging, Millie thought, Guess she changed her mind after all, as she went back to work on the hotel log printout...
As Lee and Amanda took the elevator to the 10th floor, Lee grinned, remarking to Amanda, "I forgot that you can read upside down! That was great! Now what?"
Soon, the elevator stopped at the 10th floor, and Lee helped Amanda as they got off, with Amanda saying, "It's Room 1009...You go to the door and knock, and I'll take it from there, okay?"
Lee smiled answering, "You got it..."
When they arrived at the room, Lee knocked as instructed by Amanda, who was standing near him, but off to the right side of him.
A few minutes later, Joe opened the door, and seeing Lee, asked, "Stetson? I thought you said we were done with our discussion earlier?"
Then Amanda, slowly moving in front of Lee, appeared, and replied curtly with a gesture to her ex-husband, "You and Lee are done, Joe, but you and I have only just begun, and I'm not referring to the Carpenters song! Go sit down now!"
Joe swallowed hard, seeing the anger on Amanda's face as he went to sit on the bed, thinking, Oh, boy...
Lee cleared his throat and asked Amanda then as he noticed Joe's expression, "Want me to stay, or-?"
But Amanda shook her head answering softly, "No, Sweetheart. I'll be alright. Just wait for me downstairs at the hotel bar, okay? I shouldn't be too long, hmm?"
Lee sighed, then nodded as Amanda walked him to the door and kissed him stating, "See you soon..."
He left, and Amanda, shutting the hotel door, turned slowly back to face Joe, and putting her purse down on the desk, asked crisply, "Now, Joe, I wanna know what the Sam Hill you were thinking about, giving Lee those papers?! You had absolutely no right to butt in-"
Joe retorted angrily, "The hell I didn't! If you think I want " Mr. Secret Agent Man" to raise my kids, you're as deluded as I thought!"
Amanda swallowed at his harshness as she shook her head querying, "Wow...Okay, so it's come to this, has it? You're just upset because I wouldn't go back to you, so you're pulling this stunt? I don't believe it!"
Joe answered intently as he narrowed his eyes at his ex-wife, "Look, I do have rights here because they are essentially my children, and-"
Amanda retorted back with a shake of her head, "Oh, really? Your children? Since when? Since after Jamie was born, and you decided to take the E.A.O. job, and leave us by the wayside? I don't think so-"
Joe sighed and queried with a gesture, "Alright, let me ask you something...How is what you're doing for your job okay, but when I offered to take you around the world, you rejected it? Face it, your job is a hell of a lot more dangerous than mine-"
Amanda reproachfully answered, "Yes, but I'm in one location, not pulling up stakes every few months or so, and the overall conditions here are much better for the boys! I understand your concerns, Joe, but I'm doing everything I can to keep the family safe, and now that Lee is a part of my life, he can help as well. And looking back on our marriage now, I think we both were to blame for how it turned out. We-We didn't talk enough, but you weren't honest with me about what you really wanted, Joe, until it was too late, and the ones who suffered the most from the divorce were clearly Phillip and Jamie..."
Sighing, she turned to pick up her purse and giving Joe a last look stated firmly, "Now, you and I are done! I won't change our custody agreement, but don't ever make me regret that decision, Joe King...Goodnight."
With that, Amanda left, and stepping off the elevator at the lobby, walked into the hotel bar, and seeing Lee, signaled to him that she was ready to leave.
And as they walked out to the car, Lee, holding Amanda's hand, asked concernedly, "Everything okay now?"
Amanda nodded responding quietly, "Yes, Sweetheart...Let's go home..."
And as they drove back to the house, it was a quiet ride, as Lee and Amanda were each reflecting on the course of their future from then on...
TBC
