PART 4
Chapter 9
During the following weeks Lee and Jamie worked on strengthening their relationship. Lee noticed Jamie and Phillip talking secretly more and more often. He asked them what they were planning but neither boy would say.
Amanda arrived home with Dotty 2 weeks after her departure. To say Dotty was glad to be home would be an understatement. She immediately noticed the change in Jamie's relationship with Lee.
"When did this happen?" She whispered to Amanda as they brought in luggage.
"I have no idea. Must have been while we were gone." Amanda glanced at Lee who only smiled. She smiled back, knowing he would explain everything to her later.
Chapter 10
Lee awoke to find himself alone in bed. Wondering what Amanda was doing up so early on a Sunday, he began to get out of bed. As he reached for the handle to the bedroom door, the door flew open, almost knocking him down. Two smiling boys holding a tray covered by a thick blue cloth greeted him.
"Morning guys." Lee mumbled. "Your mom's gone already."
"Lee" Phillip said with exasperation. "This is for you".
Lee took a step back. "For me?" He repeated.
"Yeah." Replied Jamie. "And before you go getting nervous, it's not food. We know you don't eat breakfast. Even if it is the most important meal of the day."
Lee laughed at the last comment. Phillip motioned for him to return and sit on the bed.
"We have coffee and presents!"
Lee looked at each boy. "Presents? Why? It's not my birthday."
Phillip and Jamie looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Lee," Jamie said, "It's Father's Day!"
"Father's Day? It's Father's Day? But what about . . .?" Lee was surprised and touched that the boys were celebrating Father's Day with him. But he wondered about Joe.
"Before you say anything," Phillip said, "we called our father and told him we would celebrate Father's Day with him next week. This is our first Father's Day with you and we didn't want to miss a second of it." Phillip removed the cloth from the tray revealing a mug of coffee, a wrapped present, and a card.
"Open the present first" Jamie demanded. Lee did as he was told, thoroughly enjoying the moment. Tearing the paper, he discovered a frame for a photograph. Instead of finding a picture in the frame, there was a small business card. Lee smiled and looked at the boys for an explanation.
"We're getting family pictures taken. All of us." Jamie explained.
"Yeah," Phillip echoed. "Me, and Jamie and you and Mom. And we're going to get a picture taken of the three of us, you, me, and Jamie, and this is a frame for you to use for our picture."
Lee was speechless. But the tears in his eyes and expression on his face said all that was needed. Jamie and Phillip sat on either side of Lee on the bed and smiled at each other, obviously pleased with themselves and choice of gift.
"Now you can open the card," said Phillip. "It's from both of us".
Lee drew in a shaky breath, opened the card, and began reading:
'Thank you for being the dad we needed, the one we never knew, and the one we always wanted. Happy Father's Day. Love, Phillip and Jamie'
Lee put an arm around each boy and made no attempt the hide the tears that were now falling freely down his face. "Guys," he managed to choke out, "This is one of the happiest days of my life".
Phillip grinned and said, "Now let's go downstairs. You may not eat breakfast but we do and I'm starved!"
Lee laughed and stood up to follow Phillip downstairs. Jamie hung back.
"Lee?" He asked quietly.
Lee turned around and smiled at Jamie. "Yes, Sport?"
"Well, I just wanted to tell you, you said you were jealous of my father because he had something you never would. I know you can't ever be my "father" but you're my dad and that's so much more important."
Jamie looked at Lee and ran to him. Lee caught him in a bear hug and they walked downstairs together.
Chapter 9
During the following weeks Lee and Jamie worked on strengthening their relationship. Lee noticed Jamie and Phillip talking secretly more and more often. He asked them what they were planning but neither boy would say.
Amanda arrived home with Dotty 2 weeks after her departure. To say Dotty was glad to be home would be an understatement. She immediately noticed the change in Jamie's relationship with Lee.
"When did this happen?" She whispered to Amanda as they brought in luggage.
"I have no idea. Must have been while we were gone." Amanda glanced at Lee who only smiled. She smiled back, knowing he would explain everything to her later.
Chapter 10
Lee awoke to find himself alone in bed. Wondering what Amanda was doing up so early on a Sunday, he began to get out of bed. As he reached for the handle to the bedroom door, the door flew open, almost knocking him down. Two smiling boys holding a tray covered by a thick blue cloth greeted him.
"Morning guys." Lee mumbled. "Your mom's gone already."
"Lee" Phillip said with exasperation. "This is for you".
Lee took a step back. "For me?" He repeated.
"Yeah." Replied Jamie. "And before you go getting nervous, it's not food. We know you don't eat breakfast. Even if it is the most important meal of the day."
Lee laughed at the last comment. Phillip motioned for him to return and sit on the bed.
"We have coffee and presents!"
Lee looked at each boy. "Presents? Why? It's not my birthday."
Phillip and Jamie looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Lee," Jamie said, "It's Father's Day!"
"Father's Day? It's Father's Day? But what about . . .?" Lee was surprised and touched that the boys were celebrating Father's Day with him. But he wondered about Joe.
"Before you say anything," Phillip said, "we called our father and told him we would celebrate Father's Day with him next week. This is our first Father's Day with you and we didn't want to miss a second of it." Phillip removed the cloth from the tray revealing a mug of coffee, a wrapped present, and a card.
"Open the present first" Jamie demanded. Lee did as he was told, thoroughly enjoying the moment. Tearing the paper, he discovered a frame for a photograph. Instead of finding a picture in the frame, there was a small business card. Lee smiled and looked at the boys for an explanation.
"We're getting family pictures taken. All of us." Jamie explained.
"Yeah," Phillip echoed. "Me, and Jamie and you and Mom. And we're going to get a picture taken of the three of us, you, me, and Jamie, and this is a frame for you to use for our picture."
Lee was speechless. But the tears in his eyes and expression on his face said all that was needed. Jamie and Phillip sat on either side of Lee on the bed and smiled at each other, obviously pleased with themselves and choice of gift.
"Now you can open the card," said Phillip. "It's from both of us".
Lee drew in a shaky breath, opened the card, and began reading:
'Thank you for being the dad we needed, the one we never knew, and the one we always wanted. Happy Father's Day. Love, Phillip and Jamie'
Lee put an arm around each boy and made no attempt the hide the tears that were now falling freely down his face. "Guys," he managed to choke out, "This is one of the happiest days of my life".
Phillip grinned and said, "Now let's go downstairs. You may not eat breakfast but we do and I'm starved!"
Lee laughed and stood up to follow Phillip downstairs. Jamie hung back.
"Lee?" He asked quietly.
Lee turned around and smiled at Jamie. "Yes, Sport?"
"Well, I just wanted to tell you, you said you were jealous of my father because he had something you never would. I know you can't ever be my "father" but you're my dad and that's so much more important."
Jamie looked at Lee and ran to him. Lee caught him in a bear hug and they walked downstairs together.