While
a faint melody played in the background, shiny gold letters that spelled
'Amanda' scrolled across the black screen and stopped in the center. The letters grew slightly larger, sparkled,
and faded from view.
"The
Music Box Dancer," Amanda happily exclaimed. "How'd you know I love that tune?"
"You
should know by now, I have my ways," Lee replied as he brought her hand to his
lips and kissed her knuckles lightly.
"You
certainly do," Amanda whispered as she shifted position so her legs stretched
out on the couch. Amanda snuggled back
against his chest, pulled his arm around her waist, and held his hand
comfortably in hers.
***** ***** *****
An
old black and white photo of a bride and groom slowly faded in.
"That's
you and Daddy," Amanda said in surprise as she turned in her mother's
direction.
"Well,
we had to start with us before we started with you," Dotty responded with a
smile. "Look at how handsome he was in
that suit. He bought it brand new, just
for the wedding."
A short montage of
photos of Amanda's parents followed. Images of a happy couple at home, with friends, at celebrations, and on
vacation. The camera froze on a photo
of a very pregnant Dotty standing at the edge of a pier gazing at a sunset.
"Mother,"
Amanda said quietly, "you look beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen that picture before."
"With
you on the way, your daddy was working extra long hours and I knew that he needed
a break so I surprised him with a weekend getaway at this little inn by the
bay. Serenity Bay, it was called,"
Dotty wistfully reminisced. "At the
last minute, I had second thoughts about going away. I looked, felt, and moved like a whale and didn't think he'd
enjoy himself but your daddy, he didn't care, he just didn't. He wanted us to go. So we did…" While Dotty paused a moment,
Phillip paused the tape. "We had a
wonderful time," Dotty continued, "and, well, anyway, shortly after we got to
the inn, your daddy lay down to take a nap but I was feeling a bit restless so
I took a walk along the pier. I had no
idea he even followed me until I saw the picture later. You know, you were born
a week after your daddy took this picture. I still don't know why but it was one of his favorites and he always
kept it protected in one of his books. When the boys asked for help with the
video, I knew I had to include it. Because your daddy would have."
"Oh,
Mother, I --" Amanda began in a choked voice before Phillip resumed play and a
new picture faded in.
***** ***** *****
A
newborn wrapped in a blanket, supported by large pillows, was in the middle of
a couch.
Jamie
piped up, "There you are, Mom."
"Beautiful,"
Lee whispered in Amanda's ear as he gave her a kiss.
The
next image was of Dotty holding the newborn followed by a picture of Amanda's
father holding her.
"You
were such a beautiful baby," Dotty said, "with such a good nature. You were just a happy baby and smiled at
anyone and everyone. Everyone simply
adored you. Especially your
daddy."
A
montage of family photos with baby Amanda as the center of attention
followed. Amanda in her crib, in her
stroller, in her playpen, and in the arms of family and friends.
"At
least you didn't use any of the bathtub pictures," Amanda sighed but, when she
noticed Lee shift slightly behind her, she added, "You didn't."
"Those
are standard family photos, darling. Everyone has them," Dotty commented with a smile.
***** ***** *****
Onscreen,
a new picture faded in and froze for a minute - a happy baby Amanda bathed by
Dotty in the kitchen sink.
Amanda
shook her head and Lee commented, "Come on, it's a cute picture."
"Lee…"
"I
seem to recall you being totally amused by the picture my mother stuck in her
diary."
Amanda
turned to look at him, "That's different."
"Oh,"
Lee replied with amusement, "How?"
"All
right," Amanda conceded as she turned back to the TV which was still frozen
with her bathtub image, "but did you have to freeze it so long?"
"Mom,
if you hate the picture, how come you took the same ones of Phillip and me?"
"Jamie,
I --"
"Shhh,"
Phillip said, "here come the others."
"The
others?" Amanda asked in horror.
The next picture was of baby Amanda lying on a blanket on her stomach without any clothing or diaper of any kind. That was followed by a picture of a naked baby in mid-crawl across the floor which was followed by one of a naked baby posed in the middle of some stuffed animals.
"Mother! I can't
believe you used all these pictures," Amanda groaned as she hid her face in
embarrassment.
"Well, now," Dotty
began with a grin as Amanda peeked at the TV between her fingers, "I did have
some help selecting the photos."
A montage of similar photos began. All of baby or toddler Amanda dressed in nothing but her birthday suit.
"Fellas!" Amanda
exclaimed.
Both boys turned to
her and quickly shouted, "It wasn't just us!"
Amanda turned back
to Lee who seemed to know he was really in for it, "You chose these
pictures?"
Lee shrugged
sheepishly, "I couldn't decide on which one or two so I --"
"Chose them all,"
Dotty finished.
Lee tried defending
himself, "Everyone agreed."
"Yeah, Mom,
majority ruled," Jamie added in Lee's defense.
"What?" Amanda
asked as she quickly rose off the couch. "Phillip, stop the tape. Give me
that remote control and -- Lee, what are you doing?" she asked as Lee grabbed
her from around her waist and pulled her down.
After she landed in
his lap, Lee tightened his arm around her waist and locked her in place. He whispered low in her ear so the others
wouldn't hear, "I can't help it if I love seeing that cute bottom of yours."
"Lee…" Amanda tried
squirming out of his lap but that only seemed to encourage him to kiss her
further.
"Come on, you
guys," Phillip complained, "mushy stuff later."
"Okay, okay, you
win," Lee sighed as he leaned back and relaxed his hold on his wife. "Start it up, Phillip."
***** ***** *****
