"So where did Lee say he was taking you for New Year's Eve?" Dotty asked.
"I don't really know, Mother," Amanda replied, tucking her lipstick into her clutch. "He just said it was a party with friends of his and it's a dress-up occasion with dancing."
"Oh, that sound lovely," said Dotty dreamily. "Your father used to take me dancing all the time, do you remember?"
"I do," Amanda smiled. "I remember the cologne you used to wear when you came in to tuck me into bed and tell me to behave for Mrs. Miller."
"Your father was a wonderful dancer," said Dotty, closing her eyes and swaying slightly. "Fred Bain is good, but your father was something else."
"I know – he taught me the cha-cha," Amanda smiled. "Maybe I'll get to do that tonight with Lee."
The doorbell rang and Dotty smiled "Speak of the devil," she said.
Amanda grinned and headed to the front door. "Sweetheart, I don't know why you didn't just come in the back – oh wow" she stuttered into silence at the sight of Lee in evening wear holding a huge bouquet and a bottle of champagne. "Oh my gosh," she finally managed. "I always forget how handsome you look in a tux."
Lee grinned as he stepped down into the foyer. "That's my line - not the tux part, but you look amazing. I love that dress."
"Thank you, Sweetheart," she said, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. "And these are gorgeous!" She reached for the flowers, but Lee pulled them back with a chuckle.
"These are for your mother," he said.
"Oh, she'll love them," said Amanda. She turned and led him into the kitchen.
"Lee Darling, you do clean up beautifully," Dotty greeted him with an impish smile. "And look at your poor arm! You even have a black sling to go with your tux! And what a gorgeous bouquet! I'll find a vase for you, Amanda."
"These are for you, my favourite mother-in-law," Lee laughed as he handed them to her.
"Oh Lee, you really didn't need to do that!" Dotty exclaimed as she took the flowers from him and hugged them to her chest.
"I think I did," said Lee, "Not just for babysitting tonight, but for all the ways you've made me feel like family the last few months."
"Well, that's just silly," said Dotty. "You are family. And as for the babysitting, the boys are practically asleep already and Edna's going to come over and we're going to make popcorn and watch all the Thin Man movies on Channel 5."
"No hot date willing to come over?" asked Lee, eyebrow raised. "That's why I brought you champagne."
"Oh no, Dear, I have too many happy memories of New Year's Eve with Amanda's father to want to think about spending it with someone else. Maybe someday another Mr. Right will come along, but in the meantime, I'm happy with a quiet night in. Enjoy New Year's while you're young, Lee, because by the time you're my age, the gloss has worn off."
"Oh, I agree with you, Dotty," he answered seriously. "The only two things I really enjoy about New Year's Eve is the dancing and the kiss at the end. "
"A man after my own heart," laughed Dotty. "I was just telling Amanda what a great dancer her father was."
"Well, that explains why she's so light on her feet." Lee turned to Amanda. "And I can't wait to dance the night away with you – or to get my kiss at midnight. Dotty, if you and Edna don't crack open that bottle tonight, I'll come back tomorrow, and we can make mimosas and toast the new year, okay? But for now, we should get going. Amanda, do you mind if we take your car?" He grimaced and lifted his arm in its sling. "I realized on the way over that I was a little overconfident about driving stick with this."
Of course, we can," Amanda dimpled at him. "Do you want me to drive?"
"No, I can manage an automatic," he answered. "And I know it's hard to drive in heels." He held up a hand as she began to laugh. "No, not from personal experience but because Francine complains about it!"
"A likely story," she quipped. "Don't wait up, Mother," she added, leaning in to give Dotty a kiss on the cheek.
"I won't," Dotty promised with a smile. "I'm sure I'll be fast asleep by the time you come home, and I won't hear a thing no matter how late – or how early in the morning - that is."
Amanda rolled her eyes as Lee ushered her out of the room. "Good night, Mother."
Amanda paused to let the greeter take her coat, gazing around with admiration at the interior. The beautiful sweeping wrought iron staircase was still festooned with the evergreen boughs and red ribbons of Christmas and the checkboard floor of the entry hall was polished so highly, it reflected the dazzling lights of the chandelier. Lee smiled as he placed his hand in the small of her back and moved toward the ballroom.
"So where are the friends we're meeting?" she asked looking around at the sea of people.
Lee waved his hand in a general sweep of them room. "Everyone, I guess."
"I thought you said we were going to a party with some of your friends," whispered Amanda, shrinking backwards slightly. "Not all of Washington."
Lee glanced around with a confused expression. "Well," he shrugged, "these are the people at most of the parties I go to, so I'm friendly with most of them."
"Oh, I see," said Amanda, with an understanding look. "These people are your friends".
"What?" asked Lee.
"Nothing," she answered, a little bit amused. "It's just that when you said 'friends', I guess I was expecting something less crowded." Her eyes widened. "Is that woman wearing a crown?"
Lee followed the direction of her gaze. "Yes and no – she's a Swedish princess so it could be, but that's just her tiara."
"Just a real-life princess in her diamond tiara…" Amanda murmured, shaking her head. "And here I thought I was dressed up with my pearl earrings on."
Lee looked as if he was going to reply, but just then a voluptuous blonde in a designer gown slid up beside them.
"Lee," she purred. "It's been too long. We missed you at the Halloween party. And a few other places, come to think of it." Her fingers trailed up and down Lee's arm, gently caressing his cheek, before settling in a grip on his forearm.
"Ah, hello Marina," said Lee. "Happy New Year. You remember my... my uhh, Amanda King?"
Marina's eyes shifted unwillingly to look at her, flicking up and down with a slight frown. "Yes, I think I remember you. Aren't you the new girl at the Lithuanian Cultural Center? You organize visiting folk dance troupes or something." She looked around the room with a slight frown. "Are you in charge of the entertainment tonight?"
"We've met, several times actually, Miss Hesselberg," Amanda answered with a strained smile. "But no, I'm not from Lithuania, I'm from Arlington. That's just across the Potomac," she added in a sweet tone when the blonde looked at her blankly. "And I organize PTA bake sales."
Lee interrupted, peeling Marina's fingers from his arm, then taking Amanda's hand in his. "Marina, Amanda is my date, not an employee."
"Oh." Marina looked faintly puzzled as if she couldn't compute that at all.
Amanda shot Lee a look, then turned back to Marina. "Your dress is lovely," she said.
"This old thing?" Marina preened. "It's from last season, but the evening theme is all about 'out with the old, in with the new'." She gave Amanda another up and down look. "Your dress is… well, I haven't seen anything like it in Milan or Paris this year. Is it Balenciaga?"
"No, it's Butterick," Amanda replied, deadpan.
Marina's expression cleared. "Oh, Butterick!" she enthused. "He's that the clever little tailor in Cleveland Park that makes the copies of designer dresses, right?"
Lee's hand slid around Amanda's waist protectively as he felt her tense under his fingers.
Amanda's smile tightened further. "No, I made it myself."
"Oh, so you mean you designed it and he made it up for you?" asked Marina, with a confused look. "I'd love to see some of your other creations."
"No," Amanda began, but Lee interrupted.
"Amanda. would you like to dance?" he asked, hurriedly.
"Yes, I would," she answered with a look of relief.
Lee swept her off to the dance floor, pulling her in close as the band began playing "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?".
"I'm sorry about that," he said finally as he felt Amanda relax slightly. "She doesn't mean to be insulting, she's just never worn anything that didn't come with a gold leaf price tag."
"I'm sure her diamond encrusted negligees must be uncomfortable," Amanda answered, with just a little bit of snark coming through her otherwise light tone.
"Amanda," Lee said, slightly reproving.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she said. "It's fine, and I shouldn't have let her get to me, but when you said we were going somewhere dressy, I wasn't expecting it to be quite so dressy and I'm obviously hideously underdressed." She pointed surreptitiously a woman dancing nearby. "I mean, I think that's Princess Diana's wedding dress and here I am in a dress I made myself."
Lee looked at the woman she'd indicated, then turned back to her with a smile. "Well, even without the train, that dress looks like a giant silk balloon that keeps her date from getting anywhere near her, whereas your dress not only makes you the most beautiful woman here, but also lets me get up close and personal to appreciate all your best features."
His hand slid down to cup her derriere and Amanda stifled a giggle.
"Did you really make the dress yourself?" he asked.
Amanda pulled back, looking at him with surprise. "Of course, I did. I can't afford fancy dresses like Francine and her expense account and now that I go to so many embassy parties and whatnot with you…" Her face took on a slightly panicky expression. "It's not good enough, is it? I should have bought something."
"Amanda, honey, it's exquisite," said Lee soothingly. "I was just impressed with your skills. It's a gorgeous dress on a gorgeous woman."
Amanda shook her head slightly. "Thank you, but it's not dressy enough for a party like this. I knew I should have made the other one – I got the black silk for it on sale and it will have these gorgeous pearl buttons for down the back, but I thought this green would be better for Christmas parties and-"
"Amanda – stop," Lee ordered, laughing. "Your dress is perfect." He leaned in and dropped a kiss on her lips. "And I'm sure the black silk one will be too."
"Thank you," Amanda accepted the compliment, but Lee could see she was still distracted. He pulled her close again, closing his eyes as he smoothed a hand up and down her back.
The song ended and they stepped back, both of them glancing around the room. The noise level had gone up; even in the short time since their arrival, the crowd had thickened noticeably. The champagne was flowing freely and Amanda shrank closer to Lee as the crowd buffeted them. People had started to give up dancing as even the dance floor became too crowded to do anything but sway in place. He moved them towards the buffet table, both of them coming to stop at the sight of the long lines snaking towards it. The waiters who were attempting to circulate with trays of hors d'oeuvres were being swarmed, the trays emptying out when they were barely out of the kitchen doors.
Lee sighed; this was not the romantic New Year's Eve he'd envisioned with his wife.
He leaned down, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the music. "Do you want to get out of here?"
Amanda's face lit up with an unmistakeable look of relief before she schooled it back to something more social. "If you'd like," she answered. "I mean, you wanted to spend the evening with friends…"
He shook his head and threaded her hand through his arm more firmly, heading for the door with a determined expression that got most people moving out of his way. When they reached the foyer again, he turned to her, shaking his head. "What I want is to spend the evening with you – I just thought this might be a place we could relax and enjoy being ourselves, but it wasn't." He turned to the coat check girl and gave her their tickets.
Amanda wrinkled her nose in agreement. "It is a bit crowded," she said. "I never understood why people wanted to go to Times Square and be squished for hours just so they could spend ten seconds watching the ball drop and then fight even more crowds to get home."
Lee laughed. "I get the feeling New Year's isn't your thing."
"Well, it's not, really," she hedged, letting him help her into her coat. "It's such a big buildup and then nothing really happens, you know? I enjoy parties," she went on, seeing his expression. "You know I do – I like the dancing and meeting people and getting to dress up-"
"In gorgeous dresses," Lee interrupted, eyes crinkling with humor.
"I like all those things," she said, as they linked hands and went in search of the car. "But New Year's is so odd."
"Odd?" he asked, handing the ticket to the parking valet. "What makes it different?"
"The time limit," she said. "Oh, you know what I mean," she went on, off his raised eyebrow. "You go to a birthday party and at some point, there's having the cake and singing the song and then after, you have the cake to eat and presents to unwrap and everyone kind of hangs around until it winds down naturally. Right?"
"Okaaay," Lee answered. The station wagon pulled up and the valet hopped out. Lee opened Amanda's door and settled her in, before walking around to the driver's side to climb in. "So how is that different from a New Year's party?"
"Like I said, other parties have a natural wind down," she replied. "But New Year's – well, everyone is there all evening with no purpose really and then suddenly, there's this rush to count down to midnight and everyone cheers and kisses and sings Auld Lang Syne and then, well, then there's nothing left to look forward to and you realize it's past midnight and you've been waiting around all evening for this big event that wasn't really all that big and the food has usually run out and you've had your fill of terrible over-proof punch and you're tired and if it had been any other kind of party, it would have sensibly ended at least two hours earlier."
Lee gave a long laugh. "Wow, I stand corrected - you really hate New Year's Eve, don't you?"
"I don't hate it," said Amanda. "And I like parties with friends, where you have the countdown and then go back to whatever conversation you were having when you had to stop for the countdown, but like I said, those big things like Times Square?" She shook her head. "It's all a bit much."
"And when I said we were going to a party with friends," Lee said guiltily, "you weren't picturing that big shindig."
"Well, no," she admitted, "but I was happy to spend the evening with you, if that's what you like."
"I used to like it," he said, reaching for her hand and lifting it to his lips as he drove. "But these last couple of months have kind of sold me on the idea of something quieter."
"Well, we're still dressed up and Mother isn't expecting us home for hours," Amanda smiled at him. "Where's somewhere quieter we could spend the evening?"
"I have just the place," he said.
Not fifteen minutes later, Lee was leading them through a small restaurant not too far from the Agency. Unlike everywhere else, it had neither a band nor a dance floor and although there were only a few empty tables, it seemed like an oasis of tranquility compared to the party they'd left.
"So, this is Monk's," Amanda said, looking around with curiosity. "I've heard you mention it."
"It's a sort of unofficial agent hangout," Lee said. "We use it to trade intel, that kind of thing. It's like the local DMZ of intelligence operatives."
"Do they make a good club sandwich?" Amanda asked, dimpling.
"They do," Lee replied, surprised. "Are you hungry?"
"Not really, but Daddy always used to rate a restaurant by how good their club sandwich was," she answered.
"That's as good a way to do it as any," said Lee. "And spies do tend to find the best food."
"I thought you didn't like being called spies," Amanda chuckled.
"Oh, our side aren't spies," Lee grinned. "The other side is."
"So, the other side hangs out here too?" she asked, looking around at the other patrons.
"They do. That guy in the corner? That's Miguel Aguilar, from the Cuban embassy. And the couple at the bar? Chinese and Korean."
"Is everyone in here an operative?" she whispered.
"No," said Lee. "In fact, the man who just came in works for the Post." He looked around, a furrow appearing in his forehead. "Actually, there's more than a few of the regulars here tonight, which is odd when they're usually trawling the parties."
The waitress came by their table, pad at the ready. "The usual, Lee?"
"Yeah," he answered, distractedly, "and a white wine for Amanda, please. Tell me though, Peggy, how come there's such a crowd in tonight?"
"Oh, haven't you heard?" Her voice dropped and she went on quietly. "Bruno out of the East German embassy was killed this morning – knifed near his apartment. There's kind of an unofficial wake for him tonight – you know how everyone ends up here after something like that."
"Yeah," Lee nodded. "Make sure to put a round for everyone on my tab, will ya?"
"Sure will," said Carol, nodding, then turning away.
"Damn it," said Lee softly. "That's the second one."
"Second what?" asked Amanda.
Lee turned to her, visibly pulling himself out of his thoughts. "That's the second agent that's been killed recently."
"Oh my gosh," said Amanda sympathetically. "Did you know him?"
"Not particularly well, but we're all aware it could be any one of us anytime." He flinched at Amanda's stricken expression and seized her hand. "Don't look like that, honey, nothing like that will happen to me. I'm too careful."
"You say that, but I bet those other agents thought the same thing," she replied, worriedly.
"Amanda, nothing is going to happen to me," he reiterated. He paused, and took a deep breath. "But if it did, I want you to know you'll be taken care of."
"I don't care about that!" she squeaked. "I care about being you being safe!" Her eyes went wide. "Oh my gosh, why did you think you have to tell me that? Would anyone even tell me if anything happened to you? Would you just vanish and I'd never know why?"
"No, no," he soothed he. "That's what I'm telling you. Every agent has a confidential envelope. No one knows what's in it until, well, until there's a trigger."
"A trigger?"
"If anything happens to an agent, there's a protocol," he explained. "Before they do anything, the agent's supervisor opens the envelope and sees if the agent left any instructions. After Las Vegas, I updated mine. It includes my new will, so you'll get everything."
"I don't want everything!" Amana exclaimed, horrified. "I want you!"
"And you have me," he smiled, gripping her hands in his. "Like I said, I'm always careful. And now I have the best reason in the world to be even more careful – you and your family. Our family," he corrected himself quickly when he saw the look in her eye.
"I hate this," she muttered. "Not this," she added, waving her hand around. "I mean I hate that I have to worry about you like this. And that Mr. Melrose might find out we're married because some protocol got triggered and he had to find out from some paperwork you left him. I don't know him very well, but I feel like he'd be so disappointed you'd been lying to him."
He rubbed his thumb gently over hers. "Do you remember when you were debating about taking the job at the Agency? You compared it to being married to someone in the police or the fire department and how you'd always be worried."
Amanda nodded. "And I was right because you have done some crazy things in the last few months."
"And you've been there to save my butt," he said in a teasing tone. "So, between me being extra careful and you always being around, I'll be fine and Billy won't find out until we choose to tell him and he won't be disappointed, he'll be thrilled that I finally found someone who puts up with me."
"Okay," she nodded, letting herself smile a little. "You and me together. You do the punching and I'll… I'll… well, I'll just confuse them until you can punch them."
"You are a black belt confuser," Lee agreed, dimpling. He straightened up as Peggy brought the drinks to the table. "Thanks, Peggy." He fished out a wad of cash. "Can you clear my tab? I like to have it clear heading into a new year. This should cover the round I bought as well as your tip."
"You're just staying for the one?" she asked.
"Yeah, I don't think this place is going to have the best mood going when the clock strikes midnight, you know? Not really great for a date."
Peggy looked over her shoulder at the gathering collection of morose agents, including a pair of guys who were currently singing a Russian dirge while knocking back shots of vodka. "You're probably right. Well, happy New Year, Lee." She glanced at the way his hand was entwined with Amanda's and smiled. "I'm sure we'll see you both in here again."
"I'm sure you will," agreed Lee.
Amanda turned to him as Peggy walked away. "Our New Year's Eve is turning into a Goldilocks night," she quipped. "This party is too big, this party is too sad. Got any other ideas for one that's just right?" She held up a hand as his grin threatened. "And do not say your apartment unless you have tidied up. This dress may not be designer, but it deserves better than that."
Lee's eyes twinkled at her. "I have not only tidied my apartment, I have cleaned it." He chuckled at her mock look of amazement. "However, we have a little time to kill before midnight and I think I have the perfect place. Your coat is warm, right?" Amanda nodded and he stood up and held out his hand. "Then let's go."
Lee pulled to a slow stop in front of the Park Service ranger who had flagged them down and pulled out his ID. The ranger leaned in to look at it, then his eyes flicked up to Lee's face.
"Oh hi, Mr. Stetson, haven't seen you here in a while," he said.
Lee peered up at him. "Hi Bert," he responded. Amanda stifled a laugh at the way Lee really did seem to know everyone. "Any chance I can park up for a few minutes and check something out?"
"No problem," the ranger nodded. "If you want to just pull in beside my truck and walk in, that'll probably be faster – lots of folks here tonight for the view."
"I bet – thanks a lot." Lee drove the wagon over to where Bert had indicated, then got out and walked around to help Amanda out.
"Did you really just make that man think you were here on spy business?" she hissed as they moved down the pathway towards the Tidal Basin.
"A little bit," he grinned, eyebrows waggling. "If anyone asks, he can say that's what we told him. No harm, no foul."
Amanda shook her head at him in disapproval. "Semantics."
"It's what makes Washington the town it is," he chuckled. "Forget about him for now and enjoy the view."
Amanda turned and gave a small gasp as they rounded the corner of the path and turned along the base of the Jefferson Memorial. "Oh my gosh, I've never been here at night," she whispered in an awed tone. "The view across the Basin is so beautiful."
"It sure is," Lee agreed. He took her hand as they wandered up the steps, stopping just outside the rotunda. "It's usually a bit quieter when I come to do midnight drops," he said, turning to face the view properly. "But this is one of the best places to see the fireworks at midnight."
"Oh, of course," said Amanda looking around at the happy crowd of revellers who were perched along the steps and the shore. "It's busy, but I have to admit, I like this better than that party."
"Me too," said Lee, "and it's a perfect place to say goodbye."
"What?" exclaimed Amanda, wheeling to look at him in astonishment. "What do you mean goodbye?"
"To the old year," Lee replied, slightly confused by her reaction. His face cleared as he stared at her expression. "Wait, did you think I meant to say goodbye to you?"
"Well, that's what it sounded like!" she grumbled, defensively.
Lee began laughing and placed his hand on her shoulder, bending to look her full in the face. "What were you picturing? That I was about to say 'Goodbye Amanda and thank you very much' and then wander off with a wave over my shoulder like Alan Ladd at the end of Shane?"
Amanda glared at him and he gathered her close, still laughing. "Amanda King, I love you so much. Don't ever change."
"I love you too," she said, grumpily.
He pulled back, just far enough to lean back in and give her a lingering kiss, before turning her to face the Mall and wrapping his good arm around her from behind.
"Fireworks should start soon," he murmured.
"You always say that," she responded, wriggling her body back against his.
"Two sets of fireworks tonight," he said in a low voice full of promise.
They stood silent for a moment, wrapped in their own little bubble of warmth, then Amanda asked, "So why is this a perfect place to say goodbye to the old year? View aside."
Lee was silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Jefferson was quite a forward-thinking man for his time," he said finally. "He thought about the future a lot – how to make it better, how it was necessary to change with the times." He made a pointing motion with his thumb to the building behind them. "There's a few quotes in there about that, not just the Declaration of Independence." He gave her a squeeze. "And this year, more than any other, I think I'm really looking forward to the future. Willing to get out of the ruts I've let myself fall into being the Agency's pet lone wolf, you know?"
Amanda shifted and turned her head to look into his face, nodding. His eyes were lit with intensity.
"It's a future I'm looking forward to – with you, with the boys, with your mother. You're right about the way parties fizzle out once midnight's come and gone, but this year, it's going to be different. I'm going to be different."
Amanda reached up and drew a finger along his jaw. "You're a good man, Lee Stetson. Don't change that." She leaned in for a kiss, jumping when the crowd around them suddenly began chanting.
"Ten! Nine! Eight!"
They grinned at each other and turned to join in.
"Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!"
The first firework shot into the sky over the Mall as the crowd around them cheered and a few champagne corks popped.
"Happy New Year, Mrs. Stetson," Lee murmured, leaning in for that interrupted kiss. "I love you"
"Happy New Year, Lee," she said, just before their lips touched.
Her 'I love you too' went unsaid for a moment, but Lee knew it anyway. Their future was going to be good – he knew that too.