Truth Aftermath

Chapter 10

The next morning, Amanda came down the stairs slowly to the kitchen, and greeted her family, stating, "Good morning. How's everyone doing today?"

The boys were having their cereal, and Phillip remarked wistfully, "Okay, I guess, except for Dad leaving again..."

Jamie nodded in agreement as Amanda, getting her coffee, answered with a sigh, "Yeah, but at least you got to be with him for a bit longer this time around. Don't worry, Fellas. He'll be writing and calling again soon enough, you know?"

Dotty replied, "Your mother's right, Boys. Now hurry up and finish your breakfast, because your bus should be here soon, hmm?"

As Amanda then came to the table with her coffee slowly, Jamie helped her with her coffee cup, putting it down, and then pulled out her chair for her.

Amanda gave her son a kiss, and carefully sitting down, commented, "Thank you, Sweetheart...Now, I'd like both of you to clean your bowls, and then come sit with me...I need to talk to you, okay?"

Phillip and Jamie eyed each other, and then shrugged as they went to the sink, with Phillip answering, "If it means we get a day off school, that's great, Mom."

Amanda and Dotty chuckled then, and Jamie, puzzled, queried, "What? He's serious!"

Amanda remarked with a grin as she glanced at her mother, "Oh, I know he is, Sweetie, but I know your grandmother is going to the grocery store soon, so I thought she could drop you off at school on the way, alright?"

The boys' faces expressed disappointment as they both nodded and chimed, "Okay."

Dotty nodded replying, "Of course I can, Dear...So, is this a family meeting?"

Amanda, giving a pointed look to Dotty, knowing that she knew the subject matter already, responded, "Yes, Mother."

When the boys came back to the table, they sat, giving their attention to Amanda, who answered, "Alright...Fellas, do you remember back when I first mentioned a man I worked with named Lee Stetson?"

Jamie, thinking carefully, responded, "Uh, yeah, wasn't he the guy you were helping when the Government was after him?"

Amanda nodded stating, "Yes, Honey...Well, he and I have been working together at IFF for about four years now, and we've recently started talking about dating. But I told him I would have to feel you guys out about it. I'd like for you to get to know him better, but just think about it, and we'll reconvene tonight, okay?"

Jamie asked, "What?"

Phillip shaking his head, stated, "Mom means we'll talk again, Doofus-"

Amanda admonished Phillip, answering with a gesture, "Hey! No name calling, please. He just didn't understand what I meant. Now, you boys head upstairs and brush your teeth, and make sure you have all your stuff for school...Go on..."

-SMK-

And as they headed up quickly, Dotty asked Amanda, "So, about last night? What happened?"

Amanda replied, "Well, I asked Lee to wait downstairs at the hotel bar until I was finished speaking with Joe-"

Dotty then queried, "Well, what exactly did Joe do to upset you so, Dear?"

Amanda was about to respond when the boys soon came back down, with Amanda thinking, Saved by the bell...

Dotty rose from the table eying her daughter and thinking, Wonder if she'll tell me the rest of last night's tale. It will be interesting to see how all this bruhaha unfolds for this family...I hope you know what you're doing, Amanda...

Then after kissing Amanda's cheek, she remarked to the boys, "Okay, grab your stuff, and let's go! We don't want to be late!"

Phillip and Jamie kissed Amanda, answering, "Bye, Mom!"

Amanda smiled remarking, "Bye, Boys! Have a good day!"

And she was surprised when she then overheard Phillip comment to his grandmother on their way out the door, "Oh, Grandma, don't forget my razor and shaving cream today..."

Amanda blinked confusedly muttering, "Did I hear right? No, I must have misunderstood. He's still too young for that...I think."

Just then, the phone rang, and Amanda rose from the table to go to the counter to answer it, stating, "Hello?"

Lee remarked, "Morning, Beautiful...I was just on my way to work, but I thought I'd check and see if you needed anything."

Amanda sighed happily, "No, but you're sweet to be asking, anyway. Mother just left with the boys to drop them at school, and then head to the grocery store...I introduced the subject of "dating you" to them this morning."

Lee pensively asked, "Oh? And what was the verdict? No, probably, right?"

Amanda replied, "Actually, I asked them to think about it, and we'd talk tonight, so we'll see what happens, alright? Oh, by the way, how old were you when you started shaving?"

Lee, bewildered, answered, "Uh, 13 or 14. Why?"

Amanda responded, "I heard Phillip asking Mother not to forget picking up a razor and shaving cream for him at the store. I thought I was hearing things."

Lee commented with a chuckle, "Well, it's either a girl he wants to impress, or to show off to his buddies. I wouldn't worry about it, Honey. Besides, Joe may have had a talk with both of them already about stuff like that, you know?"

Amanda sighed commenting, "I guess, but it feels like I've missed too much while I was gone."

Lee answered gently, "Hey...You're home now, so you can take your time to catch up with both of them, alright?"

Then, looking at his watch, he replied quickly, "Well, I'd better get off now. I'm here, already. Just call if you need anything, okay?"

Amanda commented, "Alright. I love you. Bye, bye."

Lee answered, "I love you too, Sweetie. Bye."

They hung up, and Amanda went to refill her cup of coffee that had gone cold, due to her talk with the boys.

She got back to the table and sat down once more, picking up the newspaper to read it, thinking, I don't know why I'm worried about their answer. They're a bit older now, and seem to take most things in stride lately, anyway.

The worst things they had to endure so far in their lives were the divorce, and her shooting, and she prayed they wouldn't ever have to go through anything like that again...

TBC