Note: I'm sorry this took SOOO long to update. I've hit a spot even busier than normal. We're talking two hours of sleep a night, etc. That leaves me with both lack of time and energy, but also at a lack of creativity. Hopefully, the following hasn't suffered too much as a result.
Chapter 10: Evening Gowns, Champaign, and Ballads…Oh My!
March 20, 1985
Lee approached Christi's desk whistling. After a night spent tossing and turning restlessly, he'd gotten a hold of his emotions. The issue of the other afternoon with Amanda had been eating at his subconscious since the case ended. For the first few days he'd ignored it, but last night he'd resolved the issue.
He realized now that he'd missed having Amanda in his life. That, combined with pure, unadulterated admiration at the woman she'd become had caused him to lose his head for a moment.
Still, despite his actions, his admiration, he knew Amanda King was a mother, a wife, a homeowner. She was not the sort of woman he normally got involved with, nor was she the type he wanted to.
The kiss had been nice, but not as earth shattering as he would have hoped and that furthered this thought.
He wanted Amanda in his life again. He'd realized last night what a bad choice it had been to cut her out years ago. So, he needed to call her. Talk to her about the other day and let her know that he wanted to be friends again, but no more.
The issue resolved, he found himself content and could now focus on the more pressing issue - getting a date for tomorrow night's embassy party. And with that he found himself watching his date of choice – Christi. She smiled at him as he approached, but was on the phone.
He stepped a bit away to wait for her. Looking across the bullpen, he saw a familiar figure a few desks away talking with Francine. Although quiet, he could hear their conversation from where he stood. In a barely suppressed condescending tone, the blonde laughed, "That must have been exciting for you!"
The response came back surprisingly strong, "Apparently, you are not a mother, Ms. Desmond!" Lee bit his tongue to keep from laughing out loud. "It was hardly exciting to see my sons being held at gunpoint."
Simultaneously, the smiles on both Lee and Francine's faces fell.
Without thought, Lee found himself moving toward them, placing his hands on Amanda's shoulders, as if he could protect her now from what must have been an awful night then. Francine looked up at him, her voice more muted now, "We're going over Mrs. King's debriefing."
Lee nodded, and then bending down whispered into Amanda's ear, "Come see me before you leave." She nodded without looking at him.
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Sighing heavily, Amanda stood patiently beside Lee's desk hoping he'd get back soon. She was tired, with Joe in town, life had been crazier than normal, and she just wanted to head home. A young woman approached her, smiling. "If you're waiting for Lee, he must have headed out."
Amanda looked quizzically at the woman, and then extended her hand, "Hi. I'm Amanda King, an old friend of Lee's."
The woman smiled amicably, "I'm Christi. I work here. Lee was by earlier – I'm pretty sure he was looking to invite me to an embassy ball later this week. But he's disappeared. I know he wouldn't be around here and not yet made his way back over to extend the invitation, so I think he must be gone."
Amanda nodded her head, "He told me not to leave before I talked to him, but I really should be getting home…" she looked at her watch.
"Well, I can tell him you were waiting, Amanda," Christi offered.
"That would be…" Amanda trailed off as the topic of conversation seemed to come from out of nowhere.
"Amanda, Christi," Lee said somewhat breathlessly. "Today has just gotten out of hand. I wanted to take you to lunch, Amanda, but I'm just not going to have the time. Would you happen to be free tomorrow night?"
Amanda nodded wearily, not sure what it was she was agreeing to.
Christi, on the other hand, watched the scene with interest. It looked like she was about to lose her party invite.
"Great. I have to go to an embassy ball at the Dutch embassy. Can you come?" Amanda nodded again. Walking away, Lee called over his shoulder, "I'll pick you up at seven."
Blinking quickly to try to sort out the last few minutes, Amanda caught sight of Christi. "Oh!" she exclaimed, "I didn't mean to steal your invite." she apologized.
"Not a big deal," Christi smiled, "They'll be other parties." She started to walk back to her desk, then changed her mind and turned around. "Look, Amanda. I'm not sure how close you and Lee are, but you should know he's a bit of a playboy. I was actually planning on turning him down tomorrow for just that reason. I'm the only one in the steno pool he hasn't taken out in the last two months. They all warned me that I was just his type when I first got here – I spell Christi with an "i" and for some reason that matters, and I…" she trailed off, looking down at the well-filled out bodice of her suit. "I guess the good news is that it wasn't so much a warning as a congratulations. Apparently Lee's quite the date."
Amanda shook her head slightly. Lee was a playboy! Well, that certainly explained the kiss the other night, didn't it! Blocking out the crash judgments she knew she was about to make, she smiled again, "Thanks, Christi. Lee and I are really just old friends," laughing self-depreciatingly she continued, "and since Amanda doesn't have an "i" and I'm not as … well, …," looking down at her own chest, "I don't think I have anything to worry about."
Christi laughed with Amanda, and then extended her arm again. "It was nice to meet you, Amanda."
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Amanda adjusted the last bobby pin holding up her hair before heading downstairs. She was nervous, but unsure why. She hoped that either Christi was wrong about Lee or his expectations were that this night would different than his usual dates.
As she descended the staircase, she could hear Lee chatting with her mother in the kitchen. She hadn't heard him arrive. She smiled as she entered, and Lee, being the perfect gentleman, stood. He came towards her, extending his hand to take hers. "Amanda, you look lovely."
She smiled as she said her thanks, and in a few more moments they were out the door.
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Lee stood at the bar, chatting amicably with the Indonesian ambassador. He stood facing the room while they chatted, half his mind on the conversation, and half on the brunette across the room from him. They had arrived about an hour earlier and Lee had to admit he was glad he'd asked her. He wasn't even sure why he had, this was hardly the place to have a serious discussion, but he'd been so pressed for time at the office yesterday, it had made sense to him at the time. Besides, Christi was unlikely to say yes. She'd been rejecting him since her arrival in the steno pool a couple of months ago.
A man approached Amanda, one Lee did not recognize, and he watched them head out to the dance floor together. The danced together with some ease, and for a moment Lee recalled dancing with Amanda at her wedding. Then, too, he'd been amazed at her skills as a dancer. She had a natural grace that lent itself to the dance floor. Watching her, he realized her cheerful attitude helped as well. It's always nice to dance with a smiling partner. The pair tripped and giggling, each misjudging the other's steps and Lee smiled as he saw that her ability to laugh at herself also helped.
He turned away to get two glasses of red wine, and excusing himself from the ambassador headed back to their table to place the drinks down. Moving around the couples around him, he tapped Amanda's partner on the shoulder. "May I step in?" he asked, and the other man graciously stepped aside.
Placing his right hand on Amanda's waist and taking her right hand in his left, he sighed in contentment. It was nice to be enjoying a friendly night with Amanda. It had been way too long.
"Penny for your thoughts," Amanda smiled at Lee's sigh.
He chuckled, "It'll cost you at least a nickel." Off her quizzical look, he added, "Inflation." She smiled at his lame attempt of a joke, before he said, "I was just thinking about how nice this is. It's been so long since you and I enjoyed a night out."
"Lee…" Amanda drew his name out slightly, looking at their feet for a second. Then looking up at him, compassion in her eyes, she said softly, "The other day… in the living room… the kiss… It was a mistake."
Shaking his head, trying to determine this sudden turn of events, Lee moved his left hand further behind her and led her off the dance floor. Stopping by their table briefly to grab their wine glasses he led her outside to the balcony.
The stood in silence for a few moments, enjoying one of the first warm nights of the year, as well as the beautiful garden that lay below them and the soft music that wafted out from the room at their backs.
His voice quiet so as not to break the spell, Lee began speaking again. "I know. When I said it was nice to be here with you like this, I meant it just like that. I've realized the last few days that I've missed having you in my life. As my friend, I mean. I thought I was keeping you and the boys safe by shutting you out all those years ago, and maybe I was, but now it just feels like a giant mistake." Turning towards her and taking her hands in his, Lee's eyes shown with unshed tears. "Amanda, you are my family. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when Joe left, and I'm so sorry that I didn't let myself watch you change the way you have in the past twelve years. You're so different than the last time we spoke, but you still feel safe and familiar. The sparkle in your eyes is still the same. And I can only assume that this is what it's like with family. That time apart, no matter how long, doesn't really end the relationship."
In a step, Amanda was beside him, her arms around him. Leaning towards him, she kissed his cheek. "I've missed you, too," she whispered. "Welcome home, Lee."
To Be Continued…
