Images 7

Chapter 7
*See Chapter 1 for disclaimer.

Ok, Buster, I thought you said you'd be right behind me.' Amanda thought to herself, as started to prepare dinner. She'd been home for half and hour, and there was no sign of Lee. Well, just for that, let's see... you hate liver...we're having liver for dinner.' She pulled the blob of red meat out of the fridge, just as she heard foot steps walk up behind her.

I hope you're not thinking of having that for dinner, she heard a familiar voice whisper in her ear, as she felt familiar arms encircle her waist.

Yeah, I thought this would be perfect for dinner tonight, Amanda replied, without turning around.

Well, then what are we going to do with this? her husband's voice questioned.

Amanda turned in his embrace, as he let go, and held up the pizza he'd brought for his family's dinner.

Oh, so that's why you were late? You decided to make dinner, Amanda mused.

Yeah, that was my plan, Lee replied. Dinner and a movie, he held up a video tape for his wife to see.

What movie? Amanda asked, taking the tape from Lee to examine the title. Uh, Lee, there's no title on this movie.

I know, Lee said, as he walked to the cupboard, and got the plates out for dinner.

You know? Amanda questioned.

It's a surprise, Lee said slyly.

Oh, one of those movies; one we'll have to watch after the boys go to bed, Amanda shook her head up and down knowingly.

No, it's not one of those movies, Amanda Lee replied, as he walked over and took her in his arms once again. It's one for the whole family. I just thought I'd bring something different to make up for my sneaky behavior, Lee smiled and kissed his wife.

Amanda said when they pulled apart. You admit, you were being sneaky,

Yeah, I was, Lee responded, with another kiss.

Are you going to tell me why? Amanda questioned.

You'll find out, Lee whispered, and again his lips met hers, just as the boys came down the stairs.

Ugh, Jamie run, they're at it again. Phillip whined.

Phillip, leave them alone, he was admonished by his grandmother, who followed closely behind.

Hey, pizza on a Monday. Man, you must have screwed up big time, Jamie laughed at Lee.

Hey, can't I just do something nice for my family once in a while? Lee joking replied.

Phillip started. I could go for you being this nice more often.

Ok, Ok, everyone get your pizza, and join me in the family room, Lee held up the tape.

A movie too, on a school night, Phillip was astonished, Boy, how do we rate?

A few minutes of commotion in the kitchen followed, as the pizza was divided, as Amanda wished she'd had time to make a salad, as Phillip complained that there wasn't enough ice, and as Lee waited impatiently by the TV. Finally, everyone was seated, and Lee pushed play on the VCR, then joined his wife on the sofa, as the countdown started on the screen. Five...four...

What, no previews, Jamie complained.

Shut up, Phillip said, with a mouthful of food.

Boys, the adults all said at one time.

Just watch the movie, Amanda finished as the screen went dark, and before her eyes was a picture she thought she'd never see again.

Dotty was the first to voice her amazement. Oh, my gosh, she said, nearly dropping her pizza. That's my baby.

Amanda's mouth fell open, as she realized what she watching, and she turned to look at Lee.

he smiled, and kissed his wife.

Is this what you were sneaking around for? she asked him.

Yep,...and you thought I was up to something, he laughed.

All Amanda could do was stare at the man sitting beside her. The most wonderful man in the world. I love you, were the words she was finally able to form, and she leaned over and kissed her husband again, before turning to watch the images on the tape.

Hey, grandma, is that mom? Phillip turned and questioned Dotty, who now had tears running down her cheek.

Yes, sweetheart it is, that's your mother on the day your Grandpa and I brought her home from the hospital. Oh, look at those tiny hands. Yeah, wave to Daddy.

Lee stared at the image on the screen. That is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen, he said, and put his arm around Amanda, who nestled down next to his side. Lee watched amazed that the perfect little bundle sleeping in her mother's arms had grown up to be the beautiful woman who was now sitting next to him. He thanked god that she had.

I remember now, Dotty remarked, I wrote Amanda's first day home' on this film. I think we watched it over and over again. I'm surprised we didn't wear it out. Oh, she said her eyes fixed to the TV, What a big yawn. My beautiful little girl.

Amanda got up, and crossed over to her mother's side. I love you mother, she said, as she placed a kiss on her mother's cheek. Dotty turned, and held Amanda's face in her hands, And look at her now, all grown up.

Dotty watched more of the day she brought her only child home, and then looked over at Lee. Amanda had returned to his side, and Dotty could see tears welling up in both of their eyes. Lee Stetson, Dotty began, getting up from her chair and coming to stand in front of him.

Lee looked up at her, hoping she liked the surprise.

This is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever done. Thank you, she reached down to hug him, and placed, a kiss on his cheek. Amanda couldn't have done any better, she whispered, before retuning to her seat.

Amanda looked over at Lee, and whispered, No, I couldn't have, Again, she kissed her husband.

Hey, this in only one tape, he said, trying to lighten the mood. I've got seven more in the car.

Lee watched the images that danced across the screen of his wife as a young girl. Amanda, in a party dress, dancing on her father's feet. Amanda, on vacation catching a prize fish with her proud father right next her. Amanda, in the kitchen of a big old house, helping Dotty bake Christmas cookies, and then Amanda the following day, Christmas Morning, unwrapping her new bike. Amanda, as a cheerleader at the big game, and getting her diploma as an honor student. He wished more that anything that he'd known her then, but he took solace in the fact that she had grown up in a family feeling very loved, and very protected. It made him wonder what kind of movies he would be watching had his parents lived long enough to take any.

Amanda nervously looked over at Lee as the image on the screen changed from her in her cheerleading uniform, to her in a long white dress, and flowing vail. Lee leaned over to her, and with a few simple words took her nervousness of him seeing those images away. God, you were beautiful, he tightened his grip on her shoulder as if to say, but you're mine now, and she tightened her grip on his knee, as it if to say but I'm yours now. In the back of his mind Lee wished that he'd been able to give her another wedding like that.

Other images flashed on the screen that night, images of Phillip and Jamie as newborns being held by their mother, playing in the yard, and dressing up for Halloween. Lee noticed that Joe was conspicuously absent from most of these movies. He longed to be included in the pictures of this happy family, but that was a time before he came into the picture. However, he still wished he was the one who Amanda handed Phillip to, or who picked up Jamie after a fall off his tricycle, and not Joe, but he couldn't change that. All he could do was try to build new Images with his family.

Later that night after the tapes had been labeled and put away, after everyone had gone to bed, and after Amanda had thanked him over and over again, in a way only she could, Lee lay in bed thinking back to the Images that he had seen, and forming another plan.