NEVER MY LOVE

by matahari2

Summary/Disclaimer, etc.: See Chapter 1



Chapter Two – Table for two

Lee and Amanda visited the first three antique stores they found on Wisconsin Avenue, The Curiosity Shop, Victorian Collectibles, and the Georgetown Antique Emporium.

The first shop offered no music boxes at all. The second had a few large music boxes, some of the desktop variety, and others that were set into the cabinets of old Victrola's. The third store specialized in antique clocks and music boxes of all shapes and sizes.

Amanda's eyes lit up when she saw it...a relatively small box, about six inches square. The box featured an intricate design of inlaid wood, and was highly polished. The inside of the box was lined with dark green velvet, and there was a small drawer with a tiny brass pull toward the bottom of the box.

"Oh Lee! It's beautiful, isn't it?" Amanda said, trying to get Lee's attention. He'd spotted a larger box, about ten by twelve by eight inches, and had just started to open its lid.

"What? ...oh yes, yes it is," he responded with a smile. This was the most animated she'd been this morning, and he welcomed the change, and whatever had brought it about.

"Do you know what it reminds me of?" Amanda asked, then answered her own question. "The first time we met. Remember what was in the package that you gave me at the train station?"

Lee looked a little puzzled at first, but then the light dawned. "Oh yeah, right! It was a music box, wasn't it? And it was just about this size. You like this one, do you?" he asked, grinning. "Why don't I ask the shopkeeper to set it aside for us, while we continue to look around...how does that sound?"

He could be so sweet sometimes, it almost made her heart melt. "That sounds wonderful, Sweetheart. I'll just be over here, looking at some of the other boxes, okay?"

Lee took the small box and went to talk to the shopkeeper, while Amanda went to look at the larger rectangular box Lee had just started to open. This box, it turned out, was a sort of a puzzle box, with secret compartments. When you pulled open the lid, you could see a series of what appeared to be smaller boxes inside. And depending on which of these lids you opened, one or more of the drawers fitted into the front of the box would pop open.

When Lee came back, Amanda called to him, "Lee, look at this. I don't know how much of this box you saw before, but do you see what happens when you open this lid inside the top part of the box? This drawer pops out! And if you open this other little box lid, these two drawers open, see?"

"Yes, yes, I see, but, what is it you're trying to tell me, Amanda?" Lee asked, not knowing where she was going with this.

"Well I suppose what I'm trying to tell you, or ask you, is, wouldn't this be an easy place to hide either jewels or documents? And look at the overall depth of the box... it's about eight inches from top to bottom, right?" Amanda started to explain.

"Right...so?" Lee asked. He still hadn't quite caught her drift.

"Okay, it's eight inches, top to bottom. The top of the box to the bottom of the main lid is roughly three quarters of an inch, add about an inch for the first tray just inside of the top of the box, then being generous, let's add an inch and a half each for the three drawers we can see, and all that only adds up to six and a quarter inches. That leaves an inch and three-quarters unaccounted for. Couldn't there be a false bottom or something?"

"Well yes, I suppose there could be, but Amanda, they are not going to leave the boxes with the stolen objects in them, right here on the sales floor." At her dejected look, Lee continued with an indulgent smile, "Amanda, your line of reasoning is right on. It just might be that a box very much like this one was used to transport the stolen goods. It's just not likely that it's this box...that's all. Tell you what. Why don't I go ahead and take care of our purchase, and we'll make plans to come back here and talk with the shopkeeper again after lunch, okay?"

"Okay," she said quietly, giving her full attention to the floor.

Lee paid for Amanda's music box, asked the shopkeeper for his card, and indicated that he and his lady friend might be interested in coming back to the shop later to talk with him about some of the many other music boxes the store offered.

"Ready?" Lee invited, taking Amanda's hand and guiding her out of the shop. "Looks like there's a restaurant just up the street here. Let's walk, okay?"

He took her silence for assent, and they walked into the smallish Wisconsin Avenue Grill. They took their seats in a booth with black leather seats, near the back of the restaurant. The place was dimly lit with oil lamps on each table, and was fairly quiet for the middle of the day.

"Penny for your thoughts." Lee said, trying to break the ice.

"What? Oh, Lee, they're not worth that much," she said, in a weak attempt at humor.

"No, seriously, Amanda. What's the matter?" Lee asked. "I mean, you just haven't seemed like your normal, cheerful self lately, and I just want to know...have I said or done something to upset you?"

She didn't want him to worry, really. "Oh, no, Sweetheart, absolutely not! Please don't think that. No. I guess I'm just being silly, you know. I mean, I know that you love me, it's just that..." Amanda started.

"Just what?!?" Lee interrupted. "Amanda, you know I love you...you can't question that...please!"

"See? That's why I haven't said anything before," Amanda said, her eyes welling up with tears. "Now I've upset you, and that's the last thing I want to do!"

"No, Amanda. I'm okay. Go ahead. What is it that you've been so worried or uneasy about lately?" Lee asked again, trying to calm himself as much as Amanda.

"All right," she continued, "are you sure about this? about us? about me? Wait," she said, holding up her hand to stop him interrupting, "before you answer, please hear me out." Lee nodded silently, so Amanda continued. "I guess I can't help hearing all the 'water cooler' talk and all the jibes from people like Francine, who just can't seem to see us together. I mean, I guess in a way they have a point, you know. We do come from two different worlds...well, two different lifestyles, anyway...and let's just say my romantic experience is a little more limited than yours. I just can't help wondering if you'll get bored with me one day and decide you want to go back to the way things were before we met..."

"Oh, Amanda!" Lee said, his voice choked with emotion. "Before we met, my life was empty and shallow. You're the one who has given me a life, a reason for living. You've supported me and believed in me when no one else I know would have given me the time of day. And since I've finally come to my senses, I've only begun to realize how beautiful and wonderful you are, in so many ways. I love you so much, Amanda. How can I even begin to make you understand how much?"

"I'm sorry, Lee," Amanda said, her face now wet with tears. "I know you love me and I shouldn't let all the talk get to me...it's just that I've heard it so much...and truthfully, when we first met, you didn't want anything to do with me, so I guess it's a little hard to just 'shake it off' and pretend to my self that there's nothing to be afraid of." Apprehensive about his reaction to her explanation, Amanda looked away for a moment.

This was all a little hard for Lee to absorb, especially after he'd just poured out his heart to her. But if Amanda was honest enough to admit her fears to him, he needed to be there for her, and to be honest with her, too.

"That's not technically true, Amanda, you know, that bit about not wanting anything to do with you." Lee said. At her shocked expression, he continued, "Really. I liked you right away. Honest. Truth is, I met this attractive dark-haired young woman at a train station, but her life was so different from mine, it scared me to death. I guess I just didn't know enough about 'real people' to know how to get along with you very well in the beginning. I really do regret the way I acted, Amanda. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

"Of course I can, Sweetheart. I have already. Really. A long time ago."

Amanda smiled brightly for the first time in days, and took Lee's hand in hers, just as the waiter arrived with their food. Neither of them had much of an appetite...not today. But at least one of Amanda's worries had been laid to rest.



TO BE CONTINUED