Chapter Two

Dotty pulled into the driveway of 4247 Maplewood Drive and stopped the car. She got out and opened the back of the station wagon. As she was thumbing through her packages she heard Edna Gilstrap's voice calling her name. Dotty rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. She really wasn't in the mood to talk to her nosy neighbor but she put on her best smile and turned around.

"Dotty! I am so glad I caught you!"

"Hello Edna. How are you today?"

"Oh Dotty! I am doing fine. My arthritis was acting up this morning but it's fine now. I have to tell you….look over there. Across the way….right in front of Ferguson's house!"

Dotty turned around and looked and there it was. The beautiful silver sports car that just the other week was parked in front of her own house. Oh! The silver sports car! I bet that IS Mr. Stedman's car! Dotty's thoughts were interrupted again by Edna talking.

"AND I can confirm that YOUR daughter was seen getting out of said car soaking wet and about 20 minutes later was seen getting into a limo along with a very tall man with sandy brown hair!"

Dotty looked at her. "WHAT? Amanda was with the man who owns that car? Well, I will talk to her and find out. Thank you Edna for letting me know. I have to get these bags into the house." She picked up her packages and headed towards the front door. "Thanks again for the information!"

Dotty walked into the house after unlocking the door and headed towards the kitchen. There was a note from Amanda sitting on the counter. Dotty put the bags down and picked up the note.

Mother -

Got called in to do an editing job for IFF. Will be there very late. Don't wait up. Have a wonderful night. Love, Amanda

Dotty laughed as she put the note back on the counter. She said out loud "Editing. Why do I get the feeling that she's not actually working? I wonder what's going on with her and Mr. Stedman? Maybe one day I will figure it out!"

Amanda had managed to avoid Dotty the next day. She was out of the house before the boys even left for school the next morning. Dotty came downstairs and saw Phillip and Jamie eating their cereal.

"Where's your mother? I thought I heard her?"

Phillip had a mouth full of cereal in his mouth and said "She just left Grandma. She said something about having to get to work early."

Dotty went over to the coffee maker and poured herself a cup. "OH that girl! I wanted to talk to her! Well, I guess we will see her tonight after the play." She turned around to speak to the boys.

"Now boys, remember tonight is the performance for that silly play your mother is in. So come straight home after school. I will make sure we have dinner ready so we can get to the theater on time."

The boys both nodded and finished their cereal. Dotty sat down at the table and drank her coffee. She wondered if she was ever going to see her daughter any time soon.

" Grandma…Mom's not even in the first string?"

Dotty smiled at her grandson "Honey, she's an understudy. An understudy is someone that takes over when the actor gets sick. It's very important."

Jamie leaned over and whispered "This is going to be boring if someone doesn't get sick!"

Phillip agreed with him and they settled back into their seats. Dotty shook her head and chuckled.

She heard the shot. She knew immediately what it was. How she wasn't sure. She thought for a minute back to the script. On instinct she put her arm across Phillip who had already sat up straight in his seat. Jamie glanced over at her. His eyes were wide with wonder. Dotty looked up at the stage and she saw Amanda run out.

"Stop that man! He is Gestapo!"

Phillip looked at his program and then at Jamie "I don't remember this part?" Dotty herself was just beaming. "Oh she's wonderful!" She felt such pride for her daughter. It may not have been in the script they went over but Amanda was doing wonderfully! Dotty was mesmerized as she watched Amanda. She noticed that the rest of the cast seemed surprised and not sure what was going on. Suddenly there was a very tall man wearing a suit running across the stage. The bartender knocked the gun from the older man's hand and Dotty didn't know where to look next. She noticed Amanda taking something from the young woman.

Phillip and Jamie were cheering on the tall man who was basically punching out the older man. She rolled her eyes as she saw Phillip jumping in his seat. The curtain came down and she saw Amanda standing in the center of the cast….right next to the tall man. He held her hand. Dotty was beaming and clapping. Amanda was wonderful! She should look into doing more of these plays. I wonder who the tall man is? He's absolutely gorgeous! An eleven for sure! Dotty looked at her daughter and the strange man standing next to her and wondered. Why do I get the feeling that they know one another? There is something about the way he's talking to her. Maybe I need to ask her when we get home?

Dotty's thoughts were interrupted by Jamie asking her if they could go get some ice cream.

"Of course darling. That sounds like a fun treat after having to watch that very odd play. Your mother was wonderful!"

Phillip and Jamie agreed with her and as they were walking out of the theater. They headed towards the car. Phillip and Jamie were running ahead of her and she called to them to slow down. As she crossed the street she noticed a couple walking towards a silver car. She gasped as she saw her daughter holding hands with a very tall gentleman. She watched as he opened the door for her and before Amanda got inside she saw her daughter give the man a kiss on his cheek.

Dotty stood there for a minute as the silver sports car drove away. Phillip came up to her and touched her arm.

"Grandma, are you okay?"

Dotty looked at her grandson and smiled. "Oh Darling, I am fine. Just thinking about the future…here's hoping it will be wonderful. Let's go get some ice cream!"

She headed to the car and smiled to herself thinking about her daughter's mystery man and maybe one day she would be introduced to him.