Part Eleven - Tag
8:30 P.M.
An hour and a half later, Phillip
made his way slowly into the living room. "Mom, Lee? Can I say
something?" Seeing them nod in assent, he continued. "I'm still not
thrilled about what finally made you decide to tell us about being married, but
I guess I understand the reasoning behind not telling us earlier," he
admitted. "Welcome to the family, Lee," Phillip said as he gave the
older man a handshake, followed by a hug for his mother.
"Thank you, Phillip," Lee
told him, touched at how his oldest step-son had reached out.
"Sweetheart, have you talked to
Jamie?" Amanda asked, worry apparent in her voice.
Phillip shook his head. "He was
still on the phone with Angela when I came down." At that moment he
noticed the empty desert plates on the coffee table. "Hey, are there any
brownies left?"
"In the kitchen," Amanda
told him. "Go on in and get some."
Jamie had come downstairs, and
watched from the foyer while his brother talked to their mother and Lee. 'I
still think they're hiding something,' he thought to himself as he remembered
what Angela had mentioned on the phone. She had told him what she overheard
earlier, from the tree house, and reminded Jamie that he'd never learn anything
more if he stayed angry with his mom and Lee. Sighing, he went into the living
room to join them just as Phillip left for the kitchen.
"Hi," he greeted them
shyly.
"Hey there," Amanda
replied, waiting.
"I wanted to let you know that
I'm not mad at either of you anymore," Jamie began. "But I'm still
not sure about why you didn't trust us. I guess we'll discuss it more
later." Jamie turned to his new step-father. "Welcome to the family,
Lee."
"Thank you, Jamie." Lee
answered.
"Why don't you go join your
brother and grandmother in the kitchen for some brownies and milk?" Amanda
suggested with a sigh of relief.
"Okay, Mom. Thanks."
Once he was gone, Lee spoke up.
"Amanda, do you think he'll trust us again?"
"I hope so. I think so. We just
need to give him some time." Amanda responded, to reassure herself as much
as Lee.
"Okay," Lee agreed.
"Then, time we'll give it." He kissed his wife. "I hate to mention this, Amanda, but
what about Dr. Smyth? We can't keep the Agency gossips quiet forever."
"We can't tell him now. He's
out of town," she reminded him. "We'll tell him as soon as he gets
back. I don't want to worry about it now," she said giving her head a
shake. Why don't we go join Mother and the boys in the kitchen?"
"Sounds good to me, Mrs.
Stetson." Lee told her as he placed his hand on her shoulders. "In
about one or two more minutes."
"Only one or two more
minutes?" Amanda asked, teasingly.
"Well," he answered as he
softly kissed her lips, moved to her cheek, and then her ear. "We do have
all night," Lee whispered.
"That's right," Amanda
agreed enjoying her husband's attention. "But," she stood and reached
for his hand," I think, right now, we should head into the kitchen."
The End