Chapter 7
Lee was satisfied with the way the case had turned out. "Looks like this operation has been stopped before they had a chance to ship out the canvases."
Amanda remarked, "That's good for us-our job up here is finished."
Lee asked, "Would you like to celebrate with some fried clams, clam chowder, lobster or all of the above?"
Licking her lips in anticipation Amanda happily replied, "I vote for Lobster."
They strolled hand in hand over to T-Wharf. Ellen's harbor side proudly displayed a wood carved sign, established 1954. They were seated overlooking the Sandy Bay yacht club.
The waiter took their order and presented plastic bibs along with the necessary nutcrackers to break the shells. Lee advised, "Lobster always taste best in New England. I never order it anywhere else, I know it won't be the same."
An older couple was seated at the next table. They looked as if they had been married fifty years. Amanda smiled as she watched the husband hold the chair for his wife. He sat down to the left of her so that they took up a corner of the table and reached for her hand. When the waiter appeared, they told him they did not need menus and to bring on two boiled lobsters with all the trimmings. When the waiter presented the bibs, the husband gingerly stood up and placed the bib on his wife and securely tied it at the back of her neck before doing the same for himself.
Amanda contemplated how enduring love could be, some fifty years later to still be so attentive and caring. "That's the way it is suppose to be. You fall in love, get married, have children, share a family together, grow old together, and take care of each other."
Lee observed the expressions; the tenderness the couple exchanged and thought how lucky they were to have someone special to share their life with. He wondered if anyone would ever care for him that way.
At that moment Amanda reached out and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Isn't that the sweetest thing, they act more like a young couple in love than anybody in this restaurant."
The tender gesture came naturally to Amanda. And at just the right moment, a sign to remind Lee there was somebody that cared about him.
Lee reflected a warm smile back towards Amanda. Bewildered how everything seemed just right, like it was meant to be. It was so comfortable and natural to spend this time together. He started to devise ways to prolong the evening, and their time together.
Back in Boston, Lee asked, "Its not that late, how 'bout we catch a show tonight?"
It didn't take more than a second for Amanda to agree, "Sure, that sounds good to me. We walked right past Bostix our first night here. They sell same day tickets at half price, that way theater seats don't stay empty."
Within the hour they were cozily sitting in the theater, with Lee's arm protectively around Amanda. After all, the star of "Little Shop of Horrors" was Audrey the fast growing plant in Mr. Mushnik's flower shop, which required humans for her personal food supply.
Lee declared, "I wouldn't want Audrey to get you, too."
By the end of the show Audrey had been very well nourished, she took up the entire stage, her branches traveled through the audience. Audrey's vines unraveled from the theater's ceiling. Startled when the growing vine tickled her shoulder, Amanda jumped even closer into Lee's embrace.
Lee smiled contently and proclaimed, "It's okay, Amanda, I've got you covered. You won't be Audrey's next meal." They both laughed as they exited the theater and began the short stroll through Boston Common, heading back to the Parker House.
A bemused Amanda questioned him, "How'd you ever hear about an off-beat show like that?"
Reflecting over his scattered youth, Lee recollected "It was all those years spent alone on various army bases, seeing every movie they played. 'Little Shop of Horrors' had been one of them."
A sympathetic Amanda replied, "Guess there isn't much for a kid to do on an army base. It must have been hard growing up, moving around all the time."
Lee recalled, "No not really, you learn to adapt. It's kind of like cooking. For example, you learn how to cook by just throwing together whatever ingredients are available." He dismissed any unpleasant memories with a wave of his hand and added, "It wasn't so bad. I made the best of it."
Contemplating his words, Amanda tried to find that elusive silver lining that Lee often identified for her benefit. "Guess you had plenty of training for this job at an early age. You learned to expect the unexpected, to go with the flow. I'm still trying to get used to that part of the job."
Appreciating her concern, Lee agreed, "Yeah, I learned to trust my intuition."
"I never thought I'd be spending Fourth of July week in Boston. This job sure makes sticking to any plans difficult." With a shrug of her shoulders Amanda continued, "With mother visiting her sister this week and the boys away at summer camp, I thought I would finally get the chance to do something just for myself."
A quizzical expression crossed Lee's face. It was unnatural for Amanda to be thinking of herself. It seemed she always put the needs of her family, or the Agency first. Leaning forward with concern, looking her straight in the eyes Lee inquired, "Just what was it you thought you would be doing this week?"
Distracted by the closeness of his gaze, a soft sigh escaped Amanda's lips. She explained; "You'll think it's silly, but ever since my divorce, well for the last three years I kind of wanted to paint my bedroom. Sort of making a fresh start with a fresh coat of paint."
With a supportive hug, Lee reassured her, "That's not silly at all. It's kind of like starting a new job, getting a new suit or a new haircut. Sometimes you just have to give in to your instincts and try something new and different."
All too soon they said good night outside her door. Lee's parting words were, "We should do this again sometime."
That night Amanda had trouble falling asleep. Was it time to give in to her instincts, time to move forward? Instead of this feeling of limbo she frequently felt in Lee's presence.
Looking over some pamphlets in her room, Amanda was beginning to think of Boston as quite a romantic small-scale city. Everything seemed to be in walking distance of one another. Perfect for couples to stroll hand in hand or with arms encircled around each other. Maybe it was the influence of this old historic landmark of a hotel. The oak paneled walls, crystal chandeliers in the lobby. One restaurant review advised for a romantic dinner at this hotel ask for table 40 at Parker's. That's where JFK proposed to Jackie.
'For a day that started out with suspicion and accusations, it turned out pretty good.' Amanda thought as she mulled over the days events, 'we solved a case, preserved national security, enjoyed dinner and a show, like normal people. Well, the normal people I know, would go for pizza or burgers, but when in Massachusetts, lobster counts as normal.'
'Lee never thought of himself as a normal person. Hiding out in my house during the Russell Sinclair case was very strange for him. He missed his nightclubs and fine wine. By the end it seemed he almost regretted we didn't have a normal night of hamburgers, with an old movie on TV. You never know, there could have been a Buzz Blade movie playing that night.'
Amanda wondered, 'Just what is normal? Going to a movie or show, followed by a stroll in the park. It seemed about as normal as you can get to me. Did it seem normal to Lee?'
It was pleasant thoughts of Lee that drifted through her mind as she fell asleep.
End of chapter 7