Dotty's Five W's And An H

Chapter 5

Dotty came back to the kitchen table bringing coffee for Lee, Amanda and herself and noticed Lee's smile as he chewed and swallowed on a bite of the poppy seed muffin from his plate. "It is good, isn't it?"

Amanda passed Lee's cup to him as he replied, "It sure is, Mrs. West. Amanda, you've outdone yourself as usual. Mmm..."

Dotty was puzzled. "Oh? You've had these before, then?"

Amanda gave a warning kick to Lee under the table answering quickly, "Y-Yes he has, Mother. Sometimes I bring them to our office meetings."

Dotty nodded with a smile. "That's certainly thoughtful, Dear."

Clearing his throat Lee with a slight glare to Amanda stated, "Well, now. You had some questions for me, Mrs. West? Please. Feel free to ask me anything you'd like."

Amanda shot him a wide eyed glance as Dotty looked on at the two shaking her head. "Amanda, relax. I'm not the CIA, for heaven's sake. It's just that you've never talked about your coworker before and I just wondered how you met the man. But why it should make you uncomfortable? I don't understand-"

Amanda swallowed shrugging lightly. "It's not that, Mother. But you may be making Lee feel that way."

Amanda then looked at Lee apologetically. "I'm sorry if you feel put on the spot-"

Lee putting his hand up slowly stopped her replying gently, " It's okay, Amanda. It was my idea to come here."

Looking at Dotty he stated, "Mrs. West, Amanda and I met almost four years ago at the train station."

Lee looked at Amanda to continue by adding, "You were dropping someone off that day, right?"

Amanda knew by instinct that he was giving her an easy way through the situation and nodding replied, "Yes, my boyfriend at the time, Dean MacGuire. He worked for the Weather Bureau then."

Then looking Dotty's way she continued, "You see Mother, I had just finished dropping Dean off and was headed back to my car when Lee approached me in a waiter's suit asking me to deliver a package to a man on the train for a commercial-"

Dotty asked, "But I thought IFF did documentaries?"

Lee smiled. "We do, but they roped me into helping out that one day since their regular man was out sick. Anyway, we had to later scrap the commercial."

Amanda nodded. "Yes, because I got on the wrong train and lost the package. Anyway, Lee and I ran into each other again when I went to try to get that job at Honeycutt Typewriters?"

She shuddered remembering, "The man who interviewed me for the position made me very uncomfortable so I left. But on my way out to the parking lot I saw Lee getting out of a cab."

Lee nodded. "We got to talking and I asked her if she was still looking for work, because my boss at the moment wanted to meet her to see if she wanted a position at the place I was working at which was IFF."

Dotty smiled nodding. "So you told him about your typing ninety words a minute-"

Amanda sighed. "If you don't count typos, yes."

Lee knew by then he'd have to tell more and sighed. "Mrs. West, I lost my parents when I was four and lived with different relatives until age seven when my uncle Colonel Robert Clayton of the U.S. Air Force took me to live with him. I lived in various areas to my teen years as his posts took him all over the world. Eventually, he decided I needed to finish high school and go onto college back here. After college, I joined IFF where I've been ever since."

Amanda then answered, "Mother, Lee and I are coworkers and friends. I went with him when we had all that Government trouble because he needed help and because I trusted him to keep me safe. I also knew that the Government was being misled about the two of us and if I stayed, I would have been in a jail cell not able to be here for you at all. I'm really sorry you and the boys were frightened so badly, but I'm grateful Joe was here to help you through it until I got home."

She sighed and taking Dotty's hand added, "But beyond working and being friends? We-We honestly don't know at this point. We haven't had a chance to really talk about it being so busy lately, you know?"

Dotty thought for a moment and then asked them both, "But you have considered it? I-I'm not pressuring you. I'm just asking."

Lee half smiled at Dotty. "We understand your concern, Mrs. West. You know being a bachelor all these years, I've been pretty much a loner. But I can honestly say that I truly care about your daughter and wouldn't think of hurting her for the world."

After a short silence from all three Amanda queried, "So, Mother? Are you feeling better about what we've told you? Because when and if I decide anything I'll have a family meeting with you and the boys, all right?"

Dotty nodded getting up from the table as the other two followed suit. "All right. Well. Thank you for coming by, Mr. Stetson. It was very nice meeting you officially-"

Amanda puzzled asked, "Officially?"

Dotty stated, "I've only heard about him but hadn't seen him. Remember, Darling?"

Amanda nodded. "Oh, of course."

Lee looked at his watch answering, "I've got to be going now. Meeting a friend for a squash game."

Taking Dotty's hand he shook it gently. "It was very nice meeting you as well, Mrs. West. Take care."

Amanda glanced at her mother and gesturing to the refrigerator commented."I'll walk him out and be right back, Mother. I added some things to the grocery list if you want to look them over-"

Dotty pulled Amanda close before she walked out of the kitchen whispering, "Eleven."

Amanda baffled replied, "What?"

Dotty smiled. "Remember that number, Dear, as in "from one to ten?"

Amanda realizing what she meant rolled her eyes and sighed walking Lee out to the driveway.

As Amanda closed the front door on their way out Lee motioned toward the house, "What was all that about? Did I pass inspection in there?"

Amanda shook her head. "Yes. Only next time we should have an excuse for you not to come over."

Lee grinned shrugging."Why? It was fine, Honey."

Amanda groaned. " Oh, sure it was. Joe was green after he first met Mother. This went a little better than that time."

Lee got into his car. "Well don't forget, that was the first time you brought someone serious home to meet your mother. After all, your father wasn't there either. There had to be pressure on her end as well, you know?"

As Lee closed the driver's side door he started the car and lowered the window looking at Amanda as she then nodded continuing, "Yeah. Well that time Joe and I were thinking about marriage and here with you, it's-"

Amanda stopped as she noticed Lee's nervous expression and gulped. "Oh, um. W-Well, I know we're not anywhere in that area at all. F-Forget I said anything, huh? I'll-I'll see you Monday."

Lee hesitated and then nodding started his car up. "Y-Yeah. See you Monday..."

Giving a slight wave to her as he left he thought shaking his head, Where the hell did that come from? I love her, but man...Am I ready for anything close to that?

And as Amanda watched him go down the street she shook her head and turning back towards the house she berated herself thinking, What is the matter with you, Amanda? Do you wanna scare the guy off? He already said he loves you. Let that be enough for now!

TBC