Truth Aftermath

Chapter 20

As Lee and Phillip drove out of Dulles sometime after 2:30 that afternoon, Lee looked over at his sullen passenger and queried lightly, "So, Dillinger...What are you going to say to your mom about this?"

Phillip sighed irritatedly answering, " Ha, Ha! I told her in my note where I was going, and not to worry, so she'll be alright."

And as Lee got on Rte 66 heading out of Dulles towards Arlington, he chuckled sardonically, "Really?! I don't think so, Pal! Just the mere fact that you even attempted to get away with a stunt like this blows my mind, so you can just imagine what she'll be thinking-"

Just then, Lee's car phone rang, and he picked up the receiver, answering, "Stetson."

It was Amanda, replying firmly, "Is Phillip all right?!"

Lee stated concernedly, looking at his watch, "Yeah, Honey. Your appointment was quick. Everything go okay? I take it Francine called you?"

Amanda sighed remarking in a nervous ramble, "The appointment got pushed to tomorrow, and yes, Francine did call after I got off the phone with Mrs. Dennis, who wondered why Phillip wasn't in school, and why Jamie didn't seem to know anything about it. Would you please let me talk to him?"

Lee responded, "Sure..."

Handing the phone to Phillip, Lee commented with a half smile, "Your mom...Otherwise known as "The Warden."

Phillip sighed, and swallowing hard, remarked nervously into the receiver, "H-Hi, Mom... You saw my note?"

Amanda tried to stay calm and replied crisply, "Don't you "Hi, Mom" me, Young Man! And yes, I did, but I can't believe you thought I'd be okay with it! What the hell were you even thinking about, Phillip Thomas King?!"

But as Phillip attempted to answer her with, "Well, I-", she gulped answering, " Stop! Put Lee back on please, and we will discuss this when you get home!"

Phillip swallowed responding quietly, "Y-Yes, Mom..."

Handing the receiver back to Lee, Phillip shook his head, as his eyes widened slightly, commenting, "Whoa..."

Lee shrugged stating, "I told you, didn't I?"

Then, getting back on with Amanda, Lee responded, "We'll be there in a few minutes, Sweetie...What? Yeah, I'm glad we were, too...Bye."

Phillip, watching Lee put the receiver back in the phone cradle asked, "What was she glad about?"

Lee, stopping at a red light, answered grimly, "That Francine and I were the ones at the airport when you were in the line to buy your ticket, when that scumbag was behind you!"

Phillip, nodded commenting, "Oh, right..."

As the light turned green, and Lee then moved forward, Phillip queried, "So, will I have to go to court or anything because of what happened there?"

Lee sighed and shook his head commenting, "No. Your account of your involvement has been documented by the airport security, who will then send a copy to the Agency. You will have to speak to our boss, William Melrose, about the incident, which is called a debriefing, but not for a while, because I have a feeling you'll be far too busy with other things besides school work..."

Phillip shrugged replying, "Right, I know. Like I still have basketball right now, and baseball tryouts are coming up soon, anyway."

Lee, shaking his head, silently mused as they were finally entering the Maplewood Drive neighborhood, Ahh, Phillip...You still have no clue how upset your mother is at this moment!

As they pulled into the King driveway, Phillip began to feel uneasy, and asked, "Uh, Lee? Would you mind coming in with me? I mean, maybe with you there, she won't come down on me that hard. I mean, I know now that I did a dumb thing today, but it was for a good reason, you know?"

Lee sighed as he parked the car behind the Wagoneer, and they got out of the 'Vette, with Lee stating firmly with a swallow, " Sure, I will. I wanna check on your mom, anyway. But...Before we go in, I have a bit of friendly advice to give you. You can take it or not, Phillip. See, Son, you're gonna learn a lot of things as you get older. One lesson that's never left me is to expect the unexpected. That way, you're always prepared for what the future brings you, and you can handle anything that happens, alright?"

Phillip, putting his backpack on over one shoulder, shrugged asking, " Okay, but what does that even mean?"

Lee answered evenly, "Well, you've heard the saying, "You're about to find out", haven't you?"

Phillip looking warily at him, and gulped, "Oh...y-yeah...", and Lee gesturing towards the front door of the house, remarked, "After you..."

-SMK-

And as Phillip began walking slowly towards the front door, he stared at the house he'd grown up in, and somehow, it seemed a lot larger than he remembered, and a sense of fear began to creep up on him!

He put the house key he had in the lock, and opening the door, was met in the foyer, by first his grandmother, Dotty, who gently hugged him to her for a moment, and then pulling back, with tears in her eyes as she cupped his face, asked, "Are you all right, Sweetheart?"

Phillip swallowed and nodded, answering softly, "Y-Yeah, Grandma...I'm-I'm sorry I scared you guys!"

Dotty sighing, shook her head, and gulped, replying firmly with a gesture towards the family room, "N-Not half as sorry as you're going to be...Now, go see your mother!"

And as Phillip left the foyer, Dotty went to Lee's arms, and hugging him responded tearfully, "Th-Thank you for bringing him home! I don't know what we would have done if-"

Lee, holding his mother in-law, whispered softly, "Hey, hey...Shh...It's alright."

Dotty pulled back slightly, and looking at him as she shook her head, queried smartly with a swallow, "Wanna bet? You didn't see my daughter earlier. Took some time to calm her down a bit, I'll tell you..."

Lee sighed, and taking Dotty's hand, gestured towards the kitchen, "C'mon...We'll have tea while they talk..."

As the two entered the kitchen, they found Amanda hugging Phillip tightly at first, and then pulling back, she wiped her eyes, and responded firmly to her son, with a gesture towards the family room couch, "I love you, but I'm so angry!...Go sit down right now, while I figure out what I'm going to do with you, Mister!"

It was then, as Phillip sat down on the couch, that he realized what Lee had been saying about his actions that had affected his family, and he wondered whether he'd ever be able to make it right...

TBC