Chapter Two
Amanda stood on the walkway leading to the door of 4247 Maplewood staring. remembering.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today.."
Her excitement when she and Joe bought the house. How they spent hours furnishing it.
"To join this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.."
The first time Amanda brought Philip and Jamie home from the hospital. The house crammed with guests to see each new baby as they were brought home.
"Do you Lee Stetson take..."
Philip and Jamie, riding bicycles in the front yard. Running to Amanda with scraped knees and elbows. Neighborhood kids playing in the yard, screaming and laughing. Amanda doing dishes in the kitchen with the windows open, listening to the sounds of everyday life.
"And do you, Leslie, take this man, Lee Stetson..."
Amanda, sitting up late at night waiting for Joe to come home, was listening to the quiet peace of the neighborhood sleeping their well- deserved sleep.
"May I have the rings please...."
The emptiness of this house as Joe packed his belongings and set out on his new life, leaving Amanda the single mother of two small boys. Dotty moving in to help Amanda start over.
"Lee repeat after me. I Lee take thee Leslie...."
Amanda, getting involved with the Agency. Seeing Lee in the bushes, or out her kitchen window, or sneaking up the precarious trellis. Feeling Lee hug her after a particularly hard case.
"Now Leslie, repeat after me. I Leslie take thee Lee..."
Reliving that final conversation, sitting in front of the only house she could call home. Remembering. Always remembering.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife...."
Amanda gave the house a final smile and walked down the pathway. She climbed into her car and started it. As she pulled away from the curb she gave the house a wave goodbye as her eyes filled with tears. So many memories. Would she ever be able to make good ones without Lee? She drove away sobbing, finally releasing the anguish and hurt over the finality of their relationship.
"You may now kiss your bride..."
Amanda stood on the walkway leading to the door of 4247 Maplewood staring. remembering.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today.."
Her excitement when she and Joe bought the house. How they spent hours furnishing it.
"To join this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.."
The first time Amanda brought Philip and Jamie home from the hospital. The house crammed with guests to see each new baby as they were brought home.
"Do you Lee Stetson take..."
Philip and Jamie, riding bicycles in the front yard. Running to Amanda with scraped knees and elbows. Neighborhood kids playing in the yard, screaming and laughing. Amanda doing dishes in the kitchen with the windows open, listening to the sounds of everyday life.
"And do you, Leslie, take this man, Lee Stetson..."
Amanda, sitting up late at night waiting for Joe to come home, was listening to the quiet peace of the neighborhood sleeping their well- deserved sleep.
"May I have the rings please...."
The emptiness of this house as Joe packed his belongings and set out on his new life, leaving Amanda the single mother of two small boys. Dotty moving in to help Amanda start over.
"Lee repeat after me. I Lee take thee Leslie...."
Amanda, getting involved with the Agency. Seeing Lee in the bushes, or out her kitchen window, or sneaking up the precarious trellis. Feeling Lee hug her after a particularly hard case.
"Now Leslie, repeat after me. I Leslie take thee Lee..."
Reliving that final conversation, sitting in front of the only house she could call home. Remembering. Always remembering.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife...."
Amanda gave the house a final smile and walked down the pathway. She climbed into her car and started it. As she pulled away from the curb she gave the house a wave goodbye as her eyes filled with tears. So many memories. Would she ever be able to make good ones without Lee? She drove away sobbing, finally releasing the anguish and hurt over the finality of their relationship.
"You may now kiss your bride..."
