Cars And Sons

Chapter 5

There was good news for the family that morning when Dr. Randall, after examining Phillip, told Lee and Amanda that Phillip could be released that afternoon!

His activities, however, would be kept to a minimum for another 6 weeks until the ribs healed and he'd have medication for the headaches, but that they would lessen in time as the skull pressure was beginning to dissipate, according to the examination results.

Dr. Randall stated before leaving the room, "I'll have the nurse bring in discharge papers, and at-home care instructions, but he needs to follow up with his regular doctor..."

Dotty remarked with a nod, "We'll call Dr. Goodman when we get home-"

Phillip sighed commenting as he tried to get comfortable in the bed, "I think he means after a few days, Grandma..."

Amanda replied soothingly as she helped him, "She knows that, Honey. We're just all glad to be getting you home today...Do you need anything right now?"

Phillip, noticing Lee just staring out the window, shook his head and responded quietly, "No thanks, Mom. Just wanna sleep for a bit longer, okay?"

Amanda adjusted his covers and kissing his cheek, stated, "You got it, Sweetheart...We'll be down in the cafeteria if you need us, huh?"

Then with a gesture, Amanda said, "Okay, let's all go now and let Phillip get his rest..."

As Dotty followed Amanda out after kissing Phillip, Lee, turning from the window, stopped by the bed, remarking to Phillip with a light smile and a squeeze to his hand, "Glad you're okay, Chief...See ya in a bit."

Jamie was then following Lee out, when Phillip said, "Hey, Squirt! C'mere..."

Jamie turned back, and asked Phillip, getting close to the bed, "What's the matter?"

Phillip gestured towards the hall, answering, "That's what I wanna know. What's up with Lee? He barely said two words to me while he was in here."

Jamie, looking out in the hall near the elevator, where the family was, shrugged and commented, "Oh, he and Mom got into it back at the hotel this morning-"

Phillip sighed querying, "Because of me, right?"

Jamie remarked, "Nah, Lee was in a mood when he got up this morning, and then decided to come with us after all-"

Then, seeing the hurt look on Phillip's face, he quickly shook his head answering, "N-No, that's not what I meant! He was gonna come anyway, but he was tired, and-"

Phillip gulped and brushed it off stating towards the door, "It's-It's okay, Jamie...He's had a lot to deal with-you know, the car and all...Well, you'd better go before-"

Dotty came in stating firmly, "Jamie, c'mon! We have to let Phillip rest, Honey..."

Jamie glancing at Phillip quickly before leaving, commented, "it's okay, Grandma. He just wanted some magazines to look at...See ya, Phillip."

Phillip nodded answering, "I'll ask the nurse for some. Thanks anyway. See ya, Jamie..."

And as the two left the room, Phillip sighed, and brushing sudden tears that came to his eyes, thought, This is my fault! I'm sorry, Lee! I'll never be able to make it right with you...

A little while later, as the family sat in the cafeteria having a light breakfast, and Lee having just coffee, Amanda, noticing the worry etched across his face, nudged him gently, responding, "Honey, Phillip's going to be fine. You heard Dr. Randall-"

But Dotty sighed and remarked offhandedly, "Oh, he knows that, Dear. It's the other matter that's got him upset-"

Lee, with sudden irritation, slammed down his coffee cup just then and glaring at Dotty, asked icily, "Just what the hell do you mean by that, Lady?!"

Amanda looking around as some hospital personnel glanced their way concernedly, quickly hushed them stating, "Stop it, both of you! You're making a scene-"

Then Lee, getting up from the table, threw down his napkin answering tiredly, "I didn't start it, Sweetheart, but I'm damn well going to finish it! Your mother, as usual, has to make a big deal about everything!"

Lee carefully commented to Amanda, "You stay and take the family home in the Jeep. I'm catching a cab back to town. Please tell Phillip I will see him at home later."

Kissing her cheek, he then stormed off, leaving the entire cafeteria quiet!

After a few moments, Dotty, swallowing, began with, "Well, maybe he did need more sleep. Perhaps we should have taken him up on it-"

But Amanda shaking her head, answered firmly, "Mother, please stop this!"

Dotty bewildered, queried, "Stop what, Darling? I was only speaking the truth-"

Amanda sighed commenting angrily, "Mother! Yesterday was the anniversary of Lee's parents' death. They happened to have died in a car accident. He was dealing with that, and at the same time was dealing with our son being in the hospital from a car accident, so I should think that the Corvette being totaled was the very last thing on his mind, alright? Now, if we're all finished eating here, let's head back to the hotel for some quiet time before we come back here to get Phillip, okay?"

Dotty gulped, and touching Amanda's hand, answered meekly, "I'm-I'm sorry, Dear, but he just loves that car of his so, and-"

Amanda responded softly with a gesture, "But he loves his children more, and you know that! C'mon, let's go..."

-SMK-

Just as a cab was pulling up for Lee at the hospital entrance outside, the Morrisons were coming out to the parking lot, and Suzanne, seeing Lee, said to her parents, "I'll meet you at the car. I want to talk to Mr. Stetson for a minute, okay?"

They nodded, and headed to the parking lot, and as Lee saw Suzanne, he said to the cab driver, "Please wait for a moment, huh? I'll be right with you..."

Lee swallowed, seeing Suzanne's arm in a sling, and half smiling, motioned to her to sit on the bench nearby, stating, "Hi, Suzanne. How are you feeling?"

Suzanne shrugged lightly, answering with a light motion to her arm, "Okay, I guess. But I have a few more weeks with this thing...I-I wanted to talk to you about what happened, Mr. Stetson, because the accident was my fault-"

Lee, confused, put up a hand to stop her, saying, "Wa-Wait, Honey...Phillip was the one driving. Why would you blame yourself?"

Suzanne swallowed, commenting, "Because I needed a ride that night...See, my folks were at my aunt's, and my girlfriend was away. She was the one that was going to take me to check out UVA here for the fall registration, but she couldn't do it after all. I called Phillip to tell him what happened, and he offered to take me, but then remembered Mrs. West and Jamie were at the movies, so he said he'd call you to ask to borrow your car...Well, when he came to my house to pick me up, he said he left a message with your work's answering service when he couldn't reach you in Mrs. Stetson's car, and a note for Mrs. West on the kitchen counter saying it was an emergency that he needed the Corvette...I-I'm just so sorry, Mr. Stetson. I feel awful about this-"

Lee reached over to hug her gently, and answered swallowing, " Hey, hey...It's-It's alright, Sweetheart...You and Phillip are okay, and that's what matters, huh? Now, you go on home with your folks and get some rest, and we'll see you later, huh?"

Suzanne nodded, and got up carefully from the bench, and made her way to the parking lot where her parents waited, and as Lee watched their car leave the parking lot, he sighed deeply thinking, That poor girl...Well, I guess I'll get the rest of the story from you soon, Phillip...

Then remembering the cab that was still waiting for him at the curb, Lee then cursed silently, and hopped in, stating to the driver, "Arlington, please...Thanks."

TBC