~III~

"Here you go," Lee said, stifling a yawn as he set the well-filled plate on the table. 

Amanda raised her eyebrows. Shenandoah-style chicken, barbequed pork, red bliss potato salad and cole slaw. Evidently Lee had decided to sample everything the 'Picnic on the Commons' had to offer.

"You really expect me to eat all this food?" she asked incredulously.

"No, I expect you to eat all *this* food," he grinned, placing a small salad in front of her. "The rest, I thought we'd share."

She shook her head in amazement. "You do realize there's enough there to feed a small tribe?"

"I'm starving," he replied testily as he sat down beside her. "That happens when you get about twenty minutes of sleep."

"You didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn and go running," she said, calmly spooning some dressing onto her salad.

"Trust me, Amanda, I did. I couldn't lie there next to you any more, not while you were wearing that. . . well, *that*," he told her with a sheepish grin.

"Yeah, well, I know the feeling. Maybe if you'd packed some pajamas, you wouldn't have had to peel off those sweats in the middle of the night."

He gave her a sour look. "I wasn't anticipating a need for pajamas."

"My gosh, Lee," she told him sharply, "Joe and Carrie were less than a foot away."

"They were perfectly oblivious," he retorted, shoveling a large forkful of potato salad into his mouth.  "Did Joe always snore like that? No wonder you two. . ."

Her eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't go there, if I were you.  Besides," she added as she watched him tear into a chicken leg, "Last night wasn't my fault."

"Oh, yeah? The group 'campout' sure wasn't my idea."

"Yeah, well, maybe if you'd bothered to confirm our reservation when I asked you to," she said, enunciating slowly and plainly, "the hotel wouldn't have had to give *us* their last emergency room yesterday."

"Of all the convoluted . . ." Tossing his half-eaten chicken leg back onto his plate, he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.  "That's the most idiotic reasoning I've ever heard, Amanda."

"Are you implying that I'm an idiot, Stetson?" she returned, her back stiffening.

"I'm not 'implying' anything," he retorted.  "I'm saying that you . . ." He stopped abruptly, the angry words hanging in the air as he caught Amanda's eye. Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm saying," he finished in a softer voice, "that you and I are both exhausted. Maybe we should call a truce before we say something we'll regret?"

Amanda let out a breath of her own, her anger deflating just as quickly.  "I guess Joe and Carrie's bickering must be contagious, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

Sighing again, she fiddled with the paper napkin on her lap. "I'm sorry I nagged you about the reservation. It's just that I've been feeling so . . . I don't know, 'hemmed in' I guess is the best way to describe it." Reaching for her cup, she sipped her coffee, a thoughtful frown settling over her features.  "Some days I have to remind myself that there's a world out there beyond Jenny's feeding schedule."

He smiled wistfully. "And some days that world out there is exactly what I'd like to forget." Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the table as he rubbed his eyes. "I've just been buried in paperwork and aggravation lately.  These damn budget cuts. . ." He gave her a soft smile, his hand covering hers. "I guess I miss my administrative director. Field section doesn't run as smoothly without her."

"And she misses working with you, too, Scarecrow. Among other things." Eyes sparkling, she reached under the table, letting her fingertips brush enticingly along his thigh. 

Shifting in his seat, he quickly removed her hand. "You're incorrigible, you know."

"So I've been told.  Guess that's what happens when I miss out on . . . sleep."

"Too bad I didn't know that years ago," he grinned, raising his eyebrows expressively. "All those wasted stake-outs . . ."

Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes. "It's comforting to know that your ego is still as healthy as ever."

"That's why you love me," he teased, leaning in for a brief kiss.

She sighed, running her thumb lightly over his bottom lip. "Eat your lunch, Stetson. You're gonna need all your strength for tonight."

He flashed her a grin. "Promise?"

"Count on it." Smiling, she watched Lee attack his plate again with renewed gusto. Her own lunch held less appeal, and she idly toyed with a few lettuce leaves. "What do you think has gotten into Joe and Carrie?" she asked suddenly. "I've never heard them argue like that."

"Not a clue," he mumbled, spearing a small piece of chicken. "Who can figure Joe out these days?" Holding out his fork, he turned to her with a conspiratorial grin. "But here -  I think you're the one who needs to keep up your strength right now," he advised, nodding in the general direction of the quad.  "Look."

She turned in time to see Carrie approach the table with a grim expression, an unusually silent Joe and Phillip trailing behind.  Hurriedly accepting Lee's proffered food, she addressed Carrie with a too-bright smile. "You're not eating?"

"No, thanks, Amanda," Carrie replied, settling down into the small wooden chair.  "I haven't had much of an appetite lately.  My, uh, allergies really kick up in the fall."

"That's too bad," Amanda replied. "It really is delicious."

"It sure looks good," Joe agreed, a taut smile on his face as he took a seat beside his wife.  "Why don't you just try a bite?"

"I'm not hungry, Joe," Carrie said coldly, turning her chair slightly to the right. Leaning forward, she rested her chin on her hand.

Amanda shot Phillip a questioning look. He shook his head in reply, shrugging slightly as scooted in between his mother and stepfather. "Well, I'm starving," he informed them sanguinely. "They don't usually feed us this well, so I figure I might as well enjoy it." Glancing tentatively around the table, he added with a sly grin, "Make sure you get the most out of your tuition dollar."

Lee laughed loudly. "That's mighty thoughtful of you, Chief."

"That's me," Phillip countered, taking a large bite of chicken. "Always thinking ahead."

"If that's the case, maybe we should have gone to the academic reception this morning, instead of rowing on the river," Joe stated pointedly. "The schedule said they were having departmental tours."

Amanda glanced at Phillip out of the corner of her eye, her motherly alarm bells ringing at her son's pinched expression.  "Oh, the weather's much too nice to waste the day indoors," she put in quickly,  "and I wouldn't have missed that canoe trip for anything. The valley on the south fork of the Shenandoah is absolutely beautiful."

"I just thought it would be more educational to find out what this University has to offer," Joe responded, his voice strained.  "Academically speaking, that is."

"I know exactly what they have to offer," Phillip said quietly. "I did do some research before I decided to come here."

Joe's brow furrowed. "It's just a good idea to review all your options.  That is, if you want to get into a good law school."

"You know, I don't really know what I want to do right now, Dad."

"You don't have to know, Phillip," Carrie said as she shot Joe an exasperated look. "A good liberal arts education will prepare you for anything."  She turned to her stepson warmly. "You can certainly get that here. Your mom's right, it's a lovely campus. I'm sure you're going to love it. I tell all my students that's half the battle."

"I'm sure your students don't need much encouragement," Joe countered. "Georgetown has very high standards."

"And this university doesn't?" Phillip demanded. "Is that what you're saying, Dad?"

"No, no, not at all," Joe put in hastily.  "Don't be so defensive, Phillip."

"I wouldn't be if. . ." Phillip took a deep breath, catching his mother's eye. Rising abruptly, he muttered, "I think I'm gonna go check out the dessert."

"I'll go with you," Lee offered, hastily pushing back his chair. "I could use some dessert myself." He gave Amanda a tense smile. "Bring you anything?"

"Something high on chocolate and low on calories would hit the spot," she replied, sending him a silent thank you.

"We'll see what we can do," he said, returning her look as he rested his hand on Phillip's shoulder. "Come on, let's check out the food."

Lost in thought, Amanda watched their retreating backs for a few minutes before returning her attention to her luncheon companions. Carrie was contemplating the small tear in the paper tablecloth, while Joe rocked energetically on the back legs of his chair. Amanda started to say something, but the words caught in her throat, and she bit down on her lower lip with a careful frown as she tried to frame her thoughts more diplomatically.

"You know, Joe," she began again, her fingers toying with the diamond tennis bracelet Lee had given her for their last anniversary. "I really don't think . . ."

Joe rolled forward, the front legs of his chair sinking deeply into the grass as he landed with a muffled thud.  "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to head over to the Inn," he said in a rush, placing his folded napkin over his plate.  "I want to make sure they have our room ready for tonight."

Carrie glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "I'll go with you," she added, quickly scrambling from her chair.

"It's not necessary . . ."

"I'll go with you, Joe," she repeated pointedly. She turned to Amanda with an apologetic smile.  "If you'll excuse both of us."

"Oh, uh, sure." She smiled weakly. "Why don't we all catch up with you at the football stadium?"

Joe nodded mutely, his hand massaging the back of his neck as he stepped aside to let Carrie pass. Leaning forward, Amanda rested her elbows on the table, exhaling audibly as she watched the pair trudge across the commons, their arms dangling awkwardly at their sides.

Something was definitely off kilter. Joe was usually so calm and easygoing - that had been one of the main reasons she'd been attracted to him all those years ago.  And to ride Phillip like that. . . he never did that, at least not since right before their . . .

She bit her lip again. No, it had to be something else. Joe and Carrie had a good, solid marriage.  He was probably just involved in a big case; she knew first-hand how work could absorb him. And Carrie . . . well, it was the start of the academic year at Georgetown, always a hectic time for her. Not to mention the volunteer hours she put in at the children's center, and the course work for her doctorate.  No, she was probably way off base. 

She sighed, giving her neck a slight twist to stretch out the kinks.  From across the commons, she could see Lee and Phillip slowly making their way towards her. Phillip appeared to be his old self again, his face animated as he listened to whatever Lee was telling him. Involuntarily, she smiled. Pushing back her chair, she walked over to meet them.

TBC…