1 A Little Push

by matahari2

Summary / Disclaimer, Etc.: See Chapter One.

Chapter Nine - Adventures in Shopping

Now it seemed it was Amanda's turn to ride the emotional roller coaster. Why had Lee and Leslie 'parted company', as he had said? What did he mean by a 'conflict of interest'? Was it possible that he did harbor deeper feelings for Amanda after all...that he was as nervous about 'rocking the boat' as she was herself? So many questions. How could she face him when she went back to the office this afternoon? Well...Rome wasn't built in a day, was it? She would have to act as normal as possible, at least for now. Emily had asked her to be patient with him. 'Just give it time,' she'd said. All right...what else could Amanda do?

When she arrived back at the Agency, Mrs. Marston greeted her, and handed Amanda a sealed envelope made of high-quality ivory-colored stationery with her name written on it in calligraphy. "Thank you, Mrs. Marston," she said, "isn't it lovely? I wonder what this is about."

As she rode the elevator down to the 3rd level, Amanda opened the envelope, to find an engraved invitation from the British Ambassador to the United States, for a reception at the embassy on Friday evening at 8:00. 'I'll just bet Lady Emily Farnsworth had something to do with this,' she thought. She would love to go to the reception, but what on earth would she wear? And with Jamie just getting his braces, Amanda's budget was already stretched pretty far. So a new dress was just about out of the question. But then again, it would be so nice to see Emily one more time before she left on Saturday.

At least Amanda wouldn't have to see Lee right away. His meeting with the Stadium security team would go on for another hour or more. All right then, she'd check in with Mr. Melrose.

She tapped on Billy's door, and said, "Mr. Melrose?"

"Yes, Amanda, come on in," he answered. "Unfortunately, we haven't picked up any more transmissions from our friends at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel. So there's nothing new to transcribe right now. In the meantime, the receptionist out there in the bullpen has another cart load of closed files for the vault, so if you wouldn't mind..."

"Oh no, Sir. I don't mind at all," she replied cheerfully. "I'll just run them up to the Q Bureau and start filing them." And she didn't mind, really. Not today. A little mindless filing might be exactly what she needed to calm her nerves.

Amanda made a determined effort to forget her luncheon conversation, to no avail. Thank goodness, after two hours of 'mindless' filing, the telephone rang. She answered the phone, "Q Bureau, Amanda King speaking."

Emily Farnsworth's cheerful voice was on the other end of the line. "Amanda, dear, are you all right? You seemed a bit shaken after our lunch."

"Oh, I'll be all right, Emily, it's just a lot to think about, I guess," Amanda answered, as honestly as she could. "I mean, I had pretty much given up hope, and now you tell me I shouldn't, that I should be patient, and, well, I suppose I don't want to lose Lee's friendship either, because it means so much to me, too, you know? I guess I'm a little confused right now."

"Just take it one day, no, one moment at a time, dear. I have a very good feeling about the two of you, Amanda. You must remember that sometimes men are a little 'slow' about these things. Getting in touch with, and, God forbid, expressing, their feelings can be very difficult for them, poor dears."

Amanda respected and trusted Emily, and she decided to accept her advice. "All right, Emily, I'll remember that, and do my best to be patient." Changing the subject, Amanda asked, "Now, Lady Emily Farnsworth, did you have the least little bit to do with my receiving an invitation to a reception at the British Embassy on Friday evening, hmmm?"

"You received an invitation to an embassy reception?" Emily asked, 'innocently'.

Silence. The bluff wasn't working. "All right, well, yes, dear, I did have the 'least little bit' to do with that invitation. You see, my late husband was a close friend of the current Ambassador, and we've known him for ages, and if you must know, yes, I did ask him to invite two of my dearest friends..."

"TWO of your dearest..."

"Yes, two," Emily confessed. "After all, both you and Lee are my good friends, aren't you? And I really would like to see you both again before I leave."

Amanda said, "That's a lovely thought, Emily, and I love spending time with you, too, but...how do I say this? What on earth will I wear?? I mean Lee has already seen just about every decent dress I own, and really, a party at the British Embassy, I mean that calls for something, I don't know, elegant, dramatic, beautiful...where am I going to find something like that, at a moment's notice? And that my little budget can afford? I mean, what am I going to do?"

Emily smiled and said, "Amanda, dear, don't worry yourself so. Why don't you let me help you? There is a lovely little boutique here in the hotel that may have just the dress you need. Now...do you have any pressing appointments late this afternoon, with your family?"

"Well, no, nothing but the boys' dinner, and Mother will be glad to help me with that," Amanda said. "But Emily, I still don't know...I mean, I don't want you to spend your money on a dress for me, it's just that..."

"Nonsense, dear," Emily said, determinedly. "You can go ahead and pay the part you feel you can afford right now, and I'll pay the rest. Consider it a loan, if you like."

"Emily! You'd do that for me?" Amanda asked, gratefully.

"Of course I would, Amanda. You've risked your life to save mine...why wouldn't I give...all right, lend you...a little money? What are friends for, after all?" Emily asked. She continued, "All right then. I'll meet you in the hotel lobby at 5:00 p.m., and we'll shop for your elegant, dramatic, beautiful gown."

"Oh, Emily, you are just the sweetest, most wonderful person. Thank you so much!" Amanda gushed. "I'll see you at five."

Amanda went back to her filing. At least she had something pleasant to look forward to. Shopping with Emily sounded like fun. It was already 3:30, and she could handle another hour or so of filing before she would leave to meet Emily.

At about 4:15, Amanda heard the door to the Q Bureau opening. This time, Lee did his best not to startle her. He tapped on the vault door before popping his head in to say, "Hi, Amanda."

"Oh, hello, Lee. Actually, I was just getting ready to leave for the day," Amanda said, as she closed the file drawer and stepped out of the vault.

"Oh really?" he asked. "What's up today?"

"I'm going shopping with Emily," Amanda stated. "You see, I got this invitation to a reception at the British Embassy, and well, I don't have a thing to wear, and Emily suggested..."

"Think red, Amanda. You'd look terrific in red," Lee said, with a broad smile.

"Oh," she said quietly. "Well, I'll take that under advisement, Scarecrow," Amanda said with a wink, as she exited the Q Bureau.

Lee smiled and tilted his head toward the closed door. 'She'll take it under advisement...cute!' he thought to himself. Then he remembered the envelope Mrs. Marston had handed him earlier. Wait a minute. He ripped open the envelope which had been sitting on his desk, 'cordially invited...reception...British Embassy...Friday...8:00...'

"Em-i-ly!" he shouted to the empty room. "What are you trying to do to me?!?"

He didn't like being pushed into anything, even by his dear friend Emily. But then again, spending the evening with Amanda, all dressed up in her brand new evening gown, especially if it was red...wouldn't be so bad, would it? No...not bad at all, he had to admit.

At 5:00, Amanda and Emily met in the lobby of the Jefferson Hotel, and found their way to the Bonne Temps boutique and dress shop. Emily was right. They had a lovely selection to choose from. Amanda tried on three dresses. The first was a simple black column dress with a slit up the left side, very nice, but just not quite right for the occasion, especially if dancing might be included in the evening's entertainment. The second was a strapless, royal blue silk dress with a form-fitting bodice and long, sweeping skirt. It was very nice, really, and it looked great on Amanda. Strong colors always did. But she was a little uncomfortable with the 'strapless' aspect. The third dress, which was really the first to catch Amanda's eye, was a bright red, chiffon, full-length gown, with spaghetti straps, a form-fitting bodice, and a free-flowing skirt which draped beautifully. "Oh Amanda, dear!" Emily cried, "this one is perfect! You look wonderful!"

Amanda knew it as well. 'You'd look terrific in red,' Lee had told her. She had the broadest smile as she looked at herself in the mirror, well, in all three mirrors. "Thank you, Emily. It's a fabulous dress, isn't it?"

"Yes dear, it is. Now, let's just see to the accessories, and..." Emily went on.

They took care of all the necessities that went with the lovely gown, and Emily and Amanda said goodbye for the evening. The mix of anticipation and nervousness Amanda felt about the following night would not allow her to sleep tonight. Of that, she was absolutely sure.

TO BE CONTINUED