PART TWO
Chapter 4
A few days later
"Do you think that's a good idea?"
"I think it's a great idea, Phillip, but I don't feel comfortable doing something like that without including Jamie"
"But Mom would love it!"
Lee sighed. "I know, son. It's a good idea - maybe next year".
Phillip shrugged. "I guess you're right" he muttered as he walked away.
Jamie listened to the conversation from the top of the stairs. He was pretty sure Lee and Phillip were talking about what to get Mom for Mother's Day. Jamie had no clue what Phillip's great gift idea was but he was sure it was trouble. Lee obviously did not want to give a joint gift with the boys. He probably wanted to give Amanda something special, just from him. Otherwise he would have gone along with Phillip's idea. Lee was just using Jamie as an excuse. How could Phillip not see that?
Chapter 5
Sunday, Mother's Day
Phillip woke up early. He wanted this day to be extra special for his mom. His original plan included a framed picture of Lee, Jamie, and himself. After Jamie bailed, he thought maybe just he and Lee could get a picture taken of the two of them. But not including Jamie would have made Jamie feel bad. That wasn't Phillip's intent. As Phillip looked around the family room, he noticed there were no pictures of him and his father. Phillip realized that idea was more of a present for him than his mom. He wanted pictures of Lee in the house. He wanted pictures of Lee and himself.
Phillip began making his mom breakfast. Jamie walked into the kitchen just as Phillip was leaving to bring his mom breakfast in bed.
"Was this your great idea, Wormbrain?"
Phillip rolled his eyes. "No, Dofus. What did you get Mom that's so cool you couldn't help me with my idea?"
Jamie lowered his eyes. "None of your business."
"Real original - outta my way, I'm bringing Mom breakfast."
Jamie watched as his brother made his way carefully up the stairs. He listened as Phillip announced "Happy Mother's Day" and his mother laughed with happiness. Jamie slowly climbed the stairs to his room to retrieve his own gift for his mom. Gift in hand, he walked into his mother's bedroom.
His mom was sitting up in bed, leaning against Lee, who had his arm around her. Phillip was seated on the bed in front of his mom. Amanda noticed Jamie standing in the doorway, watching.
"Good morning, Sweetheart." She said as she motioned for him to sit on the bed.
Jamie smiled shyly and shook his head. "Happy Mother's Day" he said softly and extended his arm to pass his gift to his mom. He then stepped back and stood by the window to watch her open it.
Amanda opened the package carefully to reveal a framed picture of her and Lee. Lee was seated on the grass in the backyard with his arms around Amanda. Amanda was sitting in between his legs, leaning against him. Her head was turned to look up at him as he was looking down at her. They both wore the smile they reserved for only each other. The picture appeared to have been taken from above.
"Jamie. This is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." Amanda gushed. "Thank you sweetheart. Did you take this?"
Jamie nodded.
"Come here and let me give you a hug".
Lee looked at the picture, confused. He and Amanda looked so in love, so happy in the picture. Jamie had taken that photo. Maybe Phillip was right. Maybe Jamie was not unhappy with their marriage. At this thought Phillip elbowed him in the ribs and gave him a look that said 'I told you so'. Lee just shook his head in amazement.
After giving his mom a hug, Jamie quickly left the room. He didn't want to invade their space. Especially since Phillip was already sitting on the bed. Jamie was sure Lee didn't want both kids hanging around.
Chapter 6
The next few weeks passed uneventfully. Lee and Amanda went to work, and the boys went to school. Amanda proudly displayed Jamie's gift in the family where everyone could enjoy it. She often noticed Lee looking at it when he thought no one was watching.
"It really is a great picture, isn't it?" She asked softly.
Lee nodded. "Yeah. And Jamie took it. Jamie caught a moment of our love on film and gave it to you. I wish I could get though to him. This makes me feel like I have a chance."
Amanda walked over to Lee and wrapped her arms around him. "You do have a chance. You have more than a chance. And don't you forget the conversation you had with Phillip a few weeks ago."
Surprised, Lee asked, "You heard that?"
Amanda laughed. "Yeah, and I'm glad Phillip talked to you. You needed to hear that. Things will work out with Jamie, you'll see."
"I hope so, Mrs. Stetson, I hope so."
Chapter 4
A few days later
"Do you think that's a good idea?"
"I think it's a great idea, Phillip, but I don't feel comfortable doing something like that without including Jamie"
"But Mom would love it!"
Lee sighed. "I know, son. It's a good idea - maybe next year".
Phillip shrugged. "I guess you're right" he muttered as he walked away.
Jamie listened to the conversation from the top of the stairs. He was pretty sure Lee and Phillip were talking about what to get Mom for Mother's Day. Jamie had no clue what Phillip's great gift idea was but he was sure it was trouble. Lee obviously did not want to give a joint gift with the boys. He probably wanted to give Amanda something special, just from him. Otherwise he would have gone along with Phillip's idea. Lee was just using Jamie as an excuse. How could Phillip not see that?
Chapter 5
Sunday, Mother's Day
Phillip woke up early. He wanted this day to be extra special for his mom. His original plan included a framed picture of Lee, Jamie, and himself. After Jamie bailed, he thought maybe just he and Lee could get a picture taken of the two of them. But not including Jamie would have made Jamie feel bad. That wasn't Phillip's intent. As Phillip looked around the family room, he noticed there were no pictures of him and his father. Phillip realized that idea was more of a present for him than his mom. He wanted pictures of Lee in the house. He wanted pictures of Lee and himself.
Phillip began making his mom breakfast. Jamie walked into the kitchen just as Phillip was leaving to bring his mom breakfast in bed.
"Was this your great idea, Wormbrain?"
Phillip rolled his eyes. "No, Dofus. What did you get Mom that's so cool you couldn't help me with my idea?"
Jamie lowered his eyes. "None of your business."
"Real original - outta my way, I'm bringing Mom breakfast."
Jamie watched as his brother made his way carefully up the stairs. He listened as Phillip announced "Happy Mother's Day" and his mother laughed with happiness. Jamie slowly climbed the stairs to his room to retrieve his own gift for his mom. Gift in hand, he walked into his mother's bedroom.
His mom was sitting up in bed, leaning against Lee, who had his arm around her. Phillip was seated on the bed in front of his mom. Amanda noticed Jamie standing in the doorway, watching.
"Good morning, Sweetheart." She said as she motioned for him to sit on the bed.
Jamie smiled shyly and shook his head. "Happy Mother's Day" he said softly and extended his arm to pass his gift to his mom. He then stepped back and stood by the window to watch her open it.
Amanda opened the package carefully to reveal a framed picture of her and Lee. Lee was seated on the grass in the backyard with his arms around Amanda. Amanda was sitting in between his legs, leaning against him. Her head was turned to look up at him as he was looking down at her. They both wore the smile they reserved for only each other. The picture appeared to have been taken from above.
"Jamie. This is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." Amanda gushed. "Thank you sweetheart. Did you take this?"
Jamie nodded.
"Come here and let me give you a hug".
Lee looked at the picture, confused. He and Amanda looked so in love, so happy in the picture. Jamie had taken that photo. Maybe Phillip was right. Maybe Jamie was not unhappy with their marriage. At this thought Phillip elbowed him in the ribs and gave him a look that said 'I told you so'. Lee just shook his head in amazement.
After giving his mom a hug, Jamie quickly left the room. He didn't want to invade their space. Especially since Phillip was already sitting on the bed. Jamie was sure Lee didn't want both kids hanging around.
Chapter 6
The next few weeks passed uneventfully. Lee and Amanda went to work, and the boys went to school. Amanda proudly displayed Jamie's gift in the family where everyone could enjoy it. She often noticed Lee looking at it when he thought no one was watching.
"It really is a great picture, isn't it?" She asked softly.
Lee nodded. "Yeah. And Jamie took it. Jamie caught a moment of our love on film and gave it to you. I wish I could get though to him. This makes me feel like I have a chance."
Amanda walked over to Lee and wrapped her arms around him. "You do have a chance. You have more than a chance. And don't you forget the conversation you had with Phillip a few weeks ago."
Surprised, Lee asked, "You heard that?"
Amanda laughed. "Yeah, and I'm glad Phillip talked to you. You needed to hear that. Things will work out with Jamie, you'll see."
"I hope so, Mrs. Stetson, I hope so."