~IV~

Amanda took the two steaming cups from the concession stand clerk, fitting them carefully into the small slots of the cardboard holder. Grabbing some napkins, she made her way to the small wooden bench nestled beneath the trees.

"I know it's not really cold enough for this," she said, passing a drink to Carrie King as she sat down. "But it just seems to go with football somehow."

"I know what you mean," Carrie replied. "When I was in high school, there were times we'd buy hot chocolate just so we could hold onto the cup during the games - to keep our fingers warm. It could get pretty cold in October." 

"I keep forgetting you didn't grow up in this part of the country."

"Oh, I've lived here for so long, it seems like home now. But I remember when I was a little girl. . ." Carrie leaned back, breathing deeply as she closed her eyes. "My sister and I used to really look forward to the winter weather. Snow for the holidays. . ." She opened her eyes, turning to Amanda with a sad smile. "I don't know, somehow the older you get, the less appealing all that becomes."

"I've always loved the fall myself," Amanda said wistfully. "No matter how busy he was, Daddy always made time to take us camping every September.  Such happy times. . . maybe that's why I was so anxious to take the boys when they were little. I just hope I'll be able to do the same with Matt and Jenny, but with work . . ." She sighed. Sometimes it seemed the world had been less complicated when Phillip and Jamie were growing up.  She took a long drink from her cup, the liquid warming her.  "I'm not sure my mother would consider that a tragedy, though. She definitely prefers to do her camping indoors."

Carrie smiled softly. "Just like my dad.  To him, roughing it meant a resort with four stars instead of five." Carrie shook her head. "Probably why I've always steered clear of those fishing trips Joe loves.  No frame of reference."  

"Jamie said you all had a good time at Williamsburg last summer."

"The apple doesn't fall so far from the tree after all," Carrie laughed, tucking a stray blonde hair neatly behind her ear. "I guess I prefer vacations that include brunch, too." Her eyes darted quickly in Amanda's direction as she added, "It *was* a wonderful time, though.  Joe was so relaxed." She drew in a deep breath. "I enjoyed taking a family vacation again.  After my parents died and my sister moved to California . . . well, it was a lonely time for me."

Sipping her drink, Amanda regarded her companion thoughtfully.  "You miss her a lot, don't you?"

Carrie nodded. "You'd think I'd be used to the distance now, after all these years. But I still find myself wishing she lived right around the corner. Especially lately. . . I don't know if I've ever told you this, Amanda," she added quickly, "but I've really appreciated how you've always gone out of your way to include us . . . well, me . . . in your family. It's really meant a lot."

Amanda gave her arm a light squeeze. "I'm just happy that you and Joe found each other. Even if we did get off to a slightly rocky start."

Carrie took a deep breath, exhaling softly as she gripped her cup. "That was my fault, not yours.  At first I just didn't understand how you and Joe . . . well, you both just seemed so . . . close." She sipped her cocoa thoughtfully. "You have to admit, there aren't many ex-husbands and ex-wives who are able to maintain that kind of relationship."

"No matter what happened - or didn't happen - between us," Amanda replied carefully, "Joe and I have always respected each other. He really is a great guy."

"He feels the same way about you," Carrie said in a quiet voice.

"We never seemed to have a problem making our friendship work," Amanda admitted. "I think it was when we tried to make it something more that we got into trouble." She let out a heartfelt sigh. "Oh, I don't know, who really understands what they want at twenty-one? I just wish sometimes that . . . well, that Phillip and Jamie hadn't paid the price for our mistakes."

Carrie nodded pensively. "I guess no divorce is painless . . . no matter how friendly the circumstances."

Amanda bit her lip as she regarded Carrie with friendly concern. "No, it isn't." Shivering slightly, she pulled her sweater tighter around her. The afternoon, so pleasantly begun, had taken a decidedly chilly turn.  Sighing, she turned to Carrie once again.  "I guess nothing is ever as easy as it seems. But when I think of everything the boys have gained through this extended family of theirs – two great stepparents, a new brother and sister - I know things turned out for the best after all. You know, Carrie," she added candidly, "two people as fundamentally different as Joe and I would never have made each other happy in the long run. And that would have been even harder on Phillip and Jamie."

Carrie pursed her lips, swirling the hot chocolate around in her cup. "But you and Lee aren't exactly . . ." She broke off, her eyes studying the tiny bubbles forming in the brown liquid.

"Go ahead," Amanda laughed. "Say it. You certainly wouldn't be the first."

Carrie looked up, a slow smile forming as she caught Amanda's eye. "I'm sorry, Amanda. It's just that you and Lee seem so different, and yet . . . your relationship . . . well, it really seems to work. I used to spend a lot of time just watching you two, trying to figure it out."

"And what did you decide?"

"That there just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason why two people fall in love."

Amanda smiled softly to herself.  'Rhyme or reason', indeed. She'd spent more hours than she cared to count trying to figure out who or what had managed to bring a suburban housewife and a dashing spy together. If Dean hadn't been worried about the paint job on his car one cloudy October morning, if Scarecrow's circumstances hadn't been quite so desperate . . . if, if, if.  She sighed softly. The vagaries of fate didn't lend themselves well to rational explanations. Maybe, in the final analysis, happiness really did hinge on something as seemingly insignificant as a weather report.

"I'm sorry, Amanda, I didn't mean to upset you."

Carrie's voice cut through her reverie, and she shook her head. "You didn't upset me; I just got sidetracked for a minute." Quickly downing the remainder of her hot chocolate, she tossed the empty cup into a nearby trashcan. "Lee and I may come from two very different worlds, but what we want out of life really isn't so different at all. I think, when all's said and done, that's what counts."

Carrie's lips curved up in a smile. "You're absolutely right. It doesn't matter where you started out, as long as you end up in the same place." She sighed deeply. "I really envy you that."

Amanda gave Carrie a long look. "Surely you and Joe . . ."

"Joe and I . . ." Carrie poured the remainder of her drink into the shrubbery, crumpling the stiff cardboard cup in her hand. "Things between us have been . . . difficult . . . lately."

Amanda sucked in a breath. "Joe has seemed a little, well, tense this weekend."

"Joe's a little 'tense' most of the time these days." Carrie's breath caught and she quickly turned her head away. "I don't know," she added in a tremulous voice. "Ever since he was held hostage in Santarilla . . . well, let's just say he's not the same happy-go-lucky guy he used to be."

Amanda laid a hand on Carrie's shoulder. "If there's something you want to talk about, you know I'd be happy to listen. Sometimes it helps to have a sounding board . . . someone who knows you both."

Carrie turned to Amanda, her eyes filled with tears. "I just don't know what to do anymore," she began in a trembling voice. "We fight all the time. About everything. About nothing. Oh, Amanda, when I see the way Lee looks at you . . . don't hate me, but sometimes I'm so jealous. I don't think Joe ever notices me anymore, not as a woman anyway. He won't . . . He's been so . . ."

"Well, well, I can't believe my good fortune." The deep, masculine voice sounded behind her in charming tones. "I'd hoped to see you again today."

Looking over her shoulder, Amanda encountered the dark brown eyes of Professor Jim Walters.  "Oh, uh, hello," she answered with steely politeness. Lee had a point; the man really did seem to be everywhere. "You caught me by surprise."

"I'm a little surprised myself to find you sitting here," he returned pleasantly. "I thought everyone would be attending the football game this afternoon."

"Oh, the guys were having such a good time, we thought we'd seize the opportunity to catch up a little," Amanda replied, hoping he'd take the hint. To her dismay, he didn't leave, but instead sat down next to her, resting his arm casually on the back of the bench.  She stiffened, inching imperceptibly closer to Carrie.

"Well, then, this definitely is my lucky day," he told her with a grin. "Encountering two such beautiful ladies." Amanda's eyes widened as he leaned across her, extending his right hand to Carrie. "Jim Walters," he stated suavely. "And you are?"

Amanda saw Carrie tilt her head slightly, her finger dabbing at the corner of her eyes.  "Oh, I'm sorry," Amanda put in quickly, giving Carrie a chance to regain her composure. "This is Carrie King." Turning to Carrie, she explained, "We met yesterday afternoon. Professor Walters is Phillip's advisor."

Carried greeted him with a strained smile. "And I'm Phillip's stepmother," she clarified, reaching out to accept his offered hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." 

"Believe me, the pleasure is all mine." He smiled warmly at Amanda. "I enjoy meeting my student's parents – and stepparents," he added, including Carrie in his toothy grin. "It's one of the perks of teaching at a smaller university."

"I imagine so," Carrie said, her expression brightening as she warmed to the subject. "It's not something we get to do too often at Georgetown. I teach in the English department there."

"How wonderful," Professor Walters exclaimed. "And do I have the distinction of addressing Dr. King?"

"Not quite yet," Carried informed him shyly. "But next year . . . I only have one more semester until I finish up my PhD."

"I'd love to show you our English Department if you have some time," he offered gallantly. "It's not Georgetown, but we're very proud of it."

Carrie glanced at her watch. "Well, we do have an hour or so before the end of the football game . . ."

He flashed her a stunning smile. "Excellent idea. There's no time like the present, I always say." Turning to Amanda, he added, "You'll join us, of course?"

"Well," she began hesitantly, "I really do need to phone my house.  My mother's alone with the children . . ."

"Oh, please, come," Walters encouraged. "I'm sure your mother must be an old pro at handling babies."

"I don't know . . ."

"Yes, Amanda, please do," Carrie cajoled, her eyes sparkling with delighted anticipation.

Amanda shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well, okay," she said at last. "I suppose it *could* wait another hour."

"Wonderful," Walters replied. Rising, he offered both arms. "Shall we, ladies?"

"I'd love to," Carrie replied falling into step beside him. The pair turned to Amanda. She gave them both a weak smile, and rising, she gingerly accepted Professor Walters arm. 

TBC…