Chapter 6

Thursday Afternoon

Billy, Francine, Lee, and Amanda were in Billy's office, discussing the week. Francine and Amanda sat in the chairs in front of Billy's desk, while Lee leaned up against the window. "Scarecrow, did you figure out the threats against Congressman Harris?"

Lee chuckled, "Yeah, it was just a fraternity prank. Some kids in summer school got bored one night, and a dare got out of hand. I went over and talked to them. It won't be happening again."

Amanda tried to hold back her laugh, but with little success. "Talked to them? That's putting it mildly."

"What do you mean? I spoke to the guys, they understood, and it has been taken care of."

"Lee, those boys were so scared by the time you were done, it looked like they wanted to go home and cry to their mothers."

Billy, Francine, and Lee all snickered at her comment as Lee replied, "Well, it worked, didn't it?"

They all continued to laugh until Billy added, "I'm glad it was nothing serious. I hate that we needed to get involved in something like that. At least the President will be happy."

"Sir, if it's okay with you, I've got all my reports in, and I'd like to head home so I can get on the road before it gets too much later."

Billy glanced at his watch. "Sure thing, Amanda. Tell the boys good luck from all of us."

"Will do, sir. Thank you. See everyone on Monday."

They all said their good-byes while Francine nonchalantly waved. Billy peered at Francine and wondered, "Francine, do you have any updates on what you are working on?"

"No more than what we have already discussed."

Lee interrupted, "Hey, Billy. You know I'm done with all my work as well. Do you think I can head off and start my long weekend as well?"

Francine didn't give him time to answer. "What are you taking a long weekend for? You just got back."

"Yes, I just got back from an almost six-week zero-contact mission. It wasn't a vacation, Francine. I asked Billy for a little extra time off since Amanda was going to be gone. I need to decompress. I didn't get to do much of that so far."

Francine snorted, "Decompress? Is that what you're calling it now?" Lee and Francine shared a look, but before either could comment, Billy interrupted.

"Enough, you two. Yes, Lee. You can take off. I did promise you some extra time once you got back. Have a nice weekend."

Lee stood up off his perch and stuck out his tongue at Francine. "Thanks, Billy. See you on Monday." He took off out of the office before Billy could change his mind, with Francine staring at the back of him.

"Billy, what's up with Lee? He doesn't seem like himself. Did something happen in Paris?"

Billy choked a little with her question. "I don't know what you mean. Lee seems just fine."

"I don't know, Billy. Somethings up with him. He's just not…Scarecrow." She warily eyed Billy. His only response was a shrug of his shoulders and a smile as he turned away from her, pretending to get back to work.

Lee pulled into the driveway at Maplewood Drive approximately fifteen minutes after Amanda. He knocked as he opened the door and announced, "Honey, I'm home." As he casually sauntered into the family room with a grin on his face, he saw Amanda and Dotty going over their list for the weekend. They giggled and smiled back at him. "I've always wanted to do that."

"You made good time, sweetheart. Why don't you go up and get changed, then we'll switch the cars and get everything packed up."

"Okay, be right back." Lee ran up the stairs, taking two at a time, excited for the weekend ahead of him. Amanda was by the front door when he came back down, making sure everything was ready to head out to the car. They climbed the couple of steps up to the landing and saw Dotty and the boys huddled, whispering to each other.

Amanda broke them up. "Hey, what's going on here?"

Three sets of surprised eyes turned towards the couple as Dotty stuttered, "Nothing's going on here, dear. I don't have any idea what you are talking about."

"Right, not a clue." Amanda raised a curious eyebrow.

"Nope. Now let's get you guys packed and on the road. You don't want to get stuck in traffic," Dotty urged.

Lee and the boys carried the bags out to the car while Amanda told them how to arrange everything, and within thirty minutes, the Wagoneer was packed and headed toward the highway.

The ride seemed to move along quickly as they talked about what was on the weekend schedule, just to make sure everyone was on the same page. The boys stared at each other as if to ask the unspoken question. Philip finally broke the moment. He took a deep breath and began, "Lee, can we ask you a few questions?"

Lee studied them in the rearview mirror. "Sure, Philip. What do you want to know?"

"When did you and Mom really meet? Because Jamie swears he saw you at one of our games talking to Mom while she was helping at the baked goods stand. But you two say you just started dating in Paris. So, you would've had to have known each other a lot longer if you are already in love."

Lee and Amanda gave each other a quick look before Lee answered, "Your mother and I met at the train station about ten months ago. She helped me out with a project and has been helping ever since. A short time later, she was hired by IFF." Amanda gave Lee a satisfied nod.

"Have you ever been married?"

"No, I've never been married."

"Have you ever been in a serious relationship?"

"No, not really. I thought I was a couple of times, but…" Lee glimpsed over to Amanda to gauge her reaction. "they didn't work out."

Philip eyeballed Jamie for confirmation. With a slight nod, Philip continued, "If you've never been married and never been in a serious relationship, how do you know you're in love with our mom?"

Amanda's eyes widened with shock and interrupted, "That is an excellent question, Philip. One, I can't wait to hear the answer to."

Lee quickly looked over his shoulder at the boys and replied, "Well, I can see your concern. If I'm completely honest, I don't know what love feels like either. But I will tell you what I do know." Lee glanced back and forth between the road and Amanda's eyes as he talked slowly and decisively. "I know your mom is the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I go to bed. When I'm not with her, my heart aches to be with her. When I see her for the first time at work, my heart skips a beat, and when we say our good-byes, there is a part of me that feels empty." Lee reached for Amanda's hand and kissed her palm. "I know I've never felt the way I feel for your mom, ever. And I know I never want it to end." He smiled back at the boys. "So if that is what love is supposed to feel like, then that is how I know I love your mom."

There was silence in the car for a few moments before Jamie spoke up, "Wow, Lee! That was a good answer."

Amanda took a deep breath and gazed at Lee with her teary eyes and hoarsely whispered, "Yes, it was, Jamie. A perfect answer." They shared another loving look that was interrupted by the next question from Philip.

"So, since you said you don't want this feeling to end, does that mean you and Mom are going to get married?"

"Um, well, um, we haven't talked about anything like that yet."

Amanda interrupted, "Philip, is there anything else you want to know?" Lee gratefully winked at Amanda and mouthed thank you to her.

"Just one more question for now. Can you tell us about your parents?"

Amanda scolded, "Philip, I thought I told y-" Lee reached over for Amanda's hand and gazed at her with calming eyes.

"It's okay, Amanda. I want them to know." Lee took a deep calming breath and replied, "I lost both my parents in a car accident when I was five. I don't remember a lot about them. Mom was British, and Dad was in the Army. After they died, I went to live with my uncle. He's in the Air Force, and I moved all over the world when he did. I never really had a real home."

Jamie spoke up, "Is that why you always call our house home?"

Lee lightly chuckled and smiled to himself. "I guess I didn't realize I was doing that." He quickly glanced around at all three of them. They were all grinning with goofy, yeah, you do looks on their faces. "Sorry! If it bothers you, I can try to stop it."

"It's okay, Lee. We kind of like it." The three of them giggled their approval.

"Okay, thanks." Lee pulled the car into the parking lot of the hotel. "Well, it appears as if we're here. That didn't take very long."

Amanda threw a glance at the boys. "I'll go check us in if you want to help Lee get the bags."

"Okay, Mom," Philip and Jamie acknowledged in unison.

Lee parked the car, and they all got out. Amanda headed into the hotel while the boys moved to the back of the Wagoneer. Lee opened the tailgate and started to pull out the bags when Philip mentioned, "Hey, Lee. Sorry about putting you on the spot back there about marriage."

Lee laughed and retorted, "No, you're not."

"No, we aren't. Grandma may have told us to bring it up. You're not mad, are you?"

"No, I'm not mad. But while we're on the subject, what would you guys think if your mom and I were to start discussing it?"

The boys stared at one another for a few seconds. Then leaned in to whisper in each other's ears, and when they separated, Philip took the lead and replied, "We think it would be cool to have you around all the time. Plus, we haven't seen Mom this happy in a very long time. Does that mean you are going to ask Mom to marry you?"

"Can you two keep a secret?" They both enthusiastically nodded. "Now, I don't know when, but yes, I plan on asking your mom to marry me. I already bought the ring. I just need to find the perfect time to ask her."

"Yes!" The boys exclaimed at the same time. Then Jamie asked, "Can we see the ring? Do you have it with you?"

Lee scanned the front of the hotel to make sure Amanda wasn't heading back and reached for his bag. He stuck his hand into the very bottom of his bag and pulled out a velvet box. He slowly opened the box, and the boys leaned in to look at the ring.

"Wow, Lee! That's pretty. Mom's going to love it!" Jamie announced.

"You think she'll like it?" They nodded their heads in agreement. Lee slightly turned and saw Amanda walking towards them. He quickly closed the box and shoved it back into the bottom of his bag right before Amanda got back to the car.

"Okay, fellas. I've got us all checked in. You ready to go get settled." She curiously studied all three of them. They all appeared as though they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. "Did I miss something?"

The three nervously stared at each other, then back to Amanda. Lee shrugged his shoulders and calmly answered. "No, there was nothing to miss."

"Hmm, mmm. Right."