Chapter 14: They Don't Make Things Like They Used To

July 28, 1986

She hadn't meant for it to happen.  It had started as a meaningless lunch with an old friend.  How she got from there to here, she wasn't sure.  She was riddled with guilt and knew it was time to straighten things out, but wasn't even sure where to start.  She looked around at the group around her trying to keep the smile on her face despite the turmoil inside.

The two young boys were going on animatedly about their day.  Their grandmother was shaking her head as they recalled their antics as their father tried hard not to look too proud.  Lee was half listening, but seemed distracted, not noticing at all as the brunette to his left studied him intently.

Watching her watching him, she was curious as to what precisely was going on.  She had a peculiar look to her face, one that was hard to read.

The moment passed however, and dinner went on as usual.

She waited for later that night, after dinner, after she and Lee had left, after they had arrived back at his apartment, to try to broach the topic she'd been thinking about all night.  Despite the longevity of their relationship, she and Lee had yet to move past kissing.  Maybe that was the problem, although she wasn't sure.

Somehow though, there was a feeling of expectation in the air tonight, the feeling that tonight they would move past that, far past that.  She knew it was unfair to let things get that far, so with trepidation, she joined Lee in the kitchen while he prepared coffee.

Leaning against the counter, she smiled at him, trying to determine the best way to broach the subject.  They stood in silence for several minutes, and it wasn't until Lee started to serve the coffee that Leslie realized she had yet to speak.

Bringing the two mugs to the coffee table, they sat on the couch together.  Lee leaned over to squeeze her hand, but seemingly nervous, he quickly backed away.

"Lee," she started.

"I know.  Maybe this still isn't the best time," he continued for her.

"What?"

"I thought that tonight… Well," Lee stammered, "I thought that you might spend the night here.  But it isn't time, yet, is it?  It feels forced, doesn't it?"

"Do you remember my friend, Jordan, from college?  I told you I bumped into him a few weeks ago and we had lunch."  Leslie asked, staring resolutely at the couch.

Lee shook his head, trying to understand where this had come from.  He had thought they were about to have a conversation about their sex life, or lack thereof.  Not that he really minded skipping it, but still…

"Well, we've had lunch several times since then.  And dinner a few times as well." Leslie continued, haltingly.

"And…" Lee prompted her, starting to understand where this was going.

"And, I think I'm in love with him," Leslie said quickly, trying desperately to get past this.  Lee didn't say anything, just sat watching her and feeling embarrassed, Leslie started to ramble.  "I'm sorry, Lee.  I like you, I do.  But we're not right for each other, are we?  I mean we've been together for nearly three months now and we've never done more than kiss?  That's not normal for me and I know it isn't normal for you.  We're forcing this relationship, and that's not going to make either of us happy in the long run.  I like you, Lee.  I really do.  I think you are an amazing, special man.  But I'm not in love with you and I don't think I ever will be."  Leslie got more sure of herself the longer she talked, and by this time she had her hand warmly over his.

"You're right," Lee said quietly, admitting to himself that he wasn't as upset about this as he should be considering how long they'd been together.  "I want to be in love with you, but…"

Before he could finish the thought, Leslie cut him off, "But I'm not Amanda."

"Right," Lee responded to what he thought she had said, but then replaying the words back in his mind, jumped up, "What?"

"I'm not Amanda.  You're so in love with her, you can't be in love with me."

"I'm not in love with Amanda.  She's my friend.  My best friend.  I love her.  Of course, I do.  But I'm not in love with her."

Leslie didn't say anything.  There was no point in arguing with the man if he was in denial.

August 12, 1986

"Thanks for coming with me tonight," Lee smiled at the woman in his arms.

"Not a problem, Lee.  You know that," Amanda smiled right back at him.  The two danced in silence a moment or two more, before Amanda leaned back a little bit.  "Did you know that Leslie was going to be here tonight?" she asked.

Spinning Amanda around, he said, "No.  I'm guessing that's Jordan she's with right now."

"Do you want to go over and say hello."

"Um…maybe in a little while."

"I thought your break up was amicable," Amanda asked, confused.

"It was, very.  It's just… Well, do you want to hear something funny?" Lee asked.

Amanda leaned back so she could look him fully in the face and cocked an eyebrow in question.

"Well, when we broke up, mainly as she met Jordan," Lee inserted, even though he knew Amanda knew that, "Leslie said the reason I wasn't in love with her was because… well, because I'm in love with you.  It's ridiculous, of course, but now I feel silly being here with you."

Amanda moved closer to rest her head on Lee's shoulder, trying to hide her face from him.  Despite all that they had been through, and her clarity that their friendship was the right thing, … well, it hurt for him to say the thought of being in love with her was ridiculous.  She knew she was behaving like a school girl, but she couldn't help the pang she felt at the thought.

Taking a deep breath, she moved away from him slightly.  "Well, I think you should go say hello.  I can stay here if you'd like."

"No, come with me…" Lee started.  Then thinking it over for a second, he changed his mind.  "On the other hand, maybe that would be a good idea.  I'll just be gone for a second; it's almost time for us to meet our contact."

With his hand at the small of her back, Lee led Amanda off the dance floor and to the bar.  As she went to order herself another glass of white wine, Lee went to say hello to Leslie and Jordan.

"What a lovely broach," a man Amanda did not recognize said as he approached, literally seconds after Lee left.

"Thank you, it's my mother's" Amanda replied, distracted as she watched Lee approach Leslie.

"You know, they say they don't make them the way they used to.  Why just this morning one of my favorite juice glasses cracked.  You'll never guess where I bought it."

Amanda was watching how well Lee handled himself and so absentmindedly replied, "No, I'm sure I…" and then it hit her.  The recognition sequence.  She thought they were supposed to contact Lee.  Oh, well, what was the correct reply?  "Well, I can't imagine better glasses anywhere than those they make at that little shop on Fourth Street."

The man smiled at her, reaching to grab her white wine from the bartender, and as she took it from him she felt the small microdot fall into her hand as well.  She glanced down to make sure it was there and when she looked up, her contact was gone.

She moved toward a table to find a safe place to move the microdot, but as she passed a set of French doors, another man came up to her.  Leaning down he whispered, "Nice to see you, Mrs. King.  I think we have an exchange to make."

Feeling her heartbeat quicken slightly, Amanda fought to keep her voice calm.  "I don't believe we do."

That was when she felt it.  The unmistakable feel of cold steel on the small of her back.  "Oh, come now.  I'm sure you'd be willing to discuss exchanging your life for the little bitty microdot in your hand."

Amanda let herself be led outside.

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Lee took a deep breath as he walked away from Leslie and Jordan.  That wasn't nearly as bad as he had thought.  Leslie hadn't seen him with Amanda so he did not even have to deal with that at all.

Moving towards the bar, he realized Amanda was not where he had left her.  Turning around, he couldn't spot her anywhere in the room.

Just where did she go off to, he wondered, as moved outside.

To Be Continued…