Part 3

Scene 1

Setting: The Chapel

Dottie peeked in the bride's chamber. "Amanda, have you decided if you'll wear your hair up or down...Why--you're not even getting ready, is something wrong? I could get your Aunt to come in to help..."

Amanda interupted, "No, that's okay Mother."

"Amanda, you only have an hour and a half till the guests start to arrive and I think you should..."

Amanda interupted again, "Mother, I'm going to go take a walk. I'll be back in half an hour".

A stunned Dottie moved out of the way as Amanda took off. "I guess that mugging hit her harder than I thought."

Amanda wandered half aimlessly from the church. She hadn't been able to sleep all night. She still couldn't believe Lee was gone. He was so young, so in his prime. Every time she closed her eyes she could see and practically smell that burning boat.

Amanda walked briskly, lost in her thoughts when she suddenly realized Lee's apartment building was straight ahead. She had forgotten when Dean had selected the church, it was so close to where Lee lived.

Amanda hesitated. "No, I can't", she thought to herself. "He's dead. I can't go waltzing up there and pretend he's alive." She went to hurry past Lee's apartment but kept looking back at that building. "I can't go up there, this is insane!" Against her better judgement, Amanda turned around and made her way into Lee's building and up the stairs. As her heart pounded in her chest she thought. "What am I doing here!"

Amanda slowly walked to the front of Lee's door. For several minutes she just stood there staring at his door. Again and again she thought she'd bolt down the stairs and away from his apartment but something kept her there, staring at his door. Amanda raised her hand as if to knock. "Amanda", she told herself, "Lee's dead!" Instead of knocking, Amanda tenderly touched the door expecting a solid reply but the door... suddenly opened!

Amanda peeked around the door and whispered in a cautious voice, "Hello?" As Amanda looked in, she could see Lee's jacket laid over the edge of the couch and his unopened breifcase on the coffee table. Next to the breifcase was a bottle of champaign in a bucket waiting to be filled with ice. He must have been expecting Glenda over at his place last night after the opera.

Amanda stepped gingerly into the apartment. She walked over to the couch and picked up Lee's jacket. As she cradled it, she could still smell his cologne. Amanda held up the jacket to her face, oh how it reminded her of Lee!

As Amanda stood there, lost in her thoughts, there was a creak. Amanda turned, she heard something or someone move in Lee's bedroom. She realized now she wasn't alone in Lee's apartment.

"Francine?, Mr. Melrose?", Amanda called out.

Umpff! Amanda was pushed to the floor with a firm hand over her mouth. As she recoiled and made ready to let out a blood curdling scream, she saw two very familiar and welcome hazel eyes!

"Lee!" she screamed as she flung her arms tightly around his shoulders. "You're alive!"

"Ouch, Amanda, I'm alive but still recovering!" Amanda released her hold as Lee picked her up from their position on the floor. Lee rubbed his sore shoulder. He had been badly bruised when thrown from the boat and still felt the pain of hitting the water full force. "Amanda, What are you doing here? Don't you have an important event in, what, an hour?"

Glancing at her watch, Amanda said "Lee, I still have one hour and 15 minutes and anyway, I can't believe you're alive! I can't wait to tell Francine and Billy, they'll be thrilled!"

Lee tried not to notice Amanda had ommitted Glenda from her list. "Amanda, the fact that I'm alive is on a need to know basis. Billy, Francine and Glenda don't need to know right now and you shouldn't even know! I've got to go deep undercover to help bring down this Russian mob ring.. You can't tell anyone I'm alive!"

"But," Amanda protested.

"No one!" Lee reprimanded.

Lee began to show Amanda to the door. Seeing that Amanda was crushed for being so hurriedly ushered out, Lee said. "Amanda you really can't tell anyone! Anyway, you and Gene will get married in less than an hour and go off on your honeymoon and never give this a second thought."

Amanda interjected, "You know his name is Dean and how can you think I'll just forget any of this happened! One of the closest people to me "dies" then gets brought "back from the dead" and I'm supposed to go on as if nothing happened?"

Lee was surprised to hear Amanda say he was one of the closest people to her. He was caught off guard by her determination and passion. He caught himself smiling as he looked in her fiery brown eyes. She looked, well, she looked so, angelic! Lee thought to himself, "She'll make a beautiful bride. Dean doesn't know how lucky he is!"

"Lee?"

"Uh, oh yeah, well like I said, my status must be kept secret. No one can know I'm alive. Anyway Amanda, you better go." Lee's words denied his actions, he was reluctant to let her go.

"Um, Amanda, isn't it custom for friends to congratulate the groom and... um, kiss the bride?"

Amanda stood shocked. Lee had called her his friend. She stared into Lee's soft eyes. She turned her cheek as Lee bent over and gently brushed her check with his soft lips. Amanda stood there frozen, her heart pounding and thoughts racing in her head she wanted to ignore.

"Is someone in there?" Francine hollered outside Lee's door.

Lee jumped out of sight as Amanda stood alone, still reeling from Lee's innocent kiss.

"Amanda, it looks like you've seen a ghost! What are you doing here? You should be ready for your wedding!"

Amanda stammered and gave Francine a shrug. "I, uh, I just went for a walk..."

"And you ended up here, really Amanda, you've got to let this go! I swear, if Lee was alive, you wouldn't be getting married today!

Amanda protested, "Francine!"

"Oh come on Amanda. The long looks, the time you two always spent together!"

Amanda stifled a smile as Francine exposed her jealousy. But how could Francine think that she wouldn't marry Dean if Lee was alive! Wasn't that nonsense?

Francine continued "And don't forget that Lee falls," Francine's voice softened as she corrected her tense, "Oh, I mean, fell, all over himself when you were around"

Hiding behind the couch, Lee did everything he could to not shout out a denial. How could Francine think he was interested in Amanda! That was absurd!

"Anyway Amanda," Francine declared, "Lee's gone and you know you can't act as if you know Lee or any of what happened last night! As far as you are concerned, you are going on to live a happy 'suburban' life. Ugh! As if that's possible!", she sniffed.

"Also, Billy wants me cover you during the ceremony and reception. Until you are out of the country on your honeymoon, you're a target of the Russian mafia as a witness and victim of kidnapping and assault. By the way, Amanda, I'll be sitting on the bride's side,so, if for any reason you want to 'fly the coup' as they say. You know, leave Dean at the alter, just give me a signal. When the pastor asks if there's any reason why you two can't get married..."

"Francine!" Amanda interjected. "Look, we better get going, I have to start walking down the ailse in 45 minutes. And no, I don't need a signal!"

"Suuuuure" Francine mocked as they left Lee's apartment.