Date Night:
"You look very dashing Mr. Stetson", Amanda says as Lee puts on his jacket. She adjusts his tie and they head downstairs.
Amanda writes a note to Philip and Jamie, "Don't wait up. Love mom and dad."
Lee escorts Amanda through the back door attached to the garage. He presses the garage door opener and punches the alarm code after locking the back door. He escorts his lovely wife, helping her into the Roadster and walks over to the driver's side. As he slowly backs out of the garage, Amanda puts her hand on his leg and leans over and kisses him on the cheek. He pushes the close button for the garage and leans over and gives her a proper kiss hello. He pulls out of the driveway and they speed into town.
Amanda laughs, "Sweetheart, I know how much you love this car, but do you really have to show off every time we go out?"
"Darlin", Lee drawls sarcastically, "it is a husband's duty to mark his territory, and keep the cavemen away".
"Darlin'? Your duty? Putting your mark on me? You gotta do better than that. Oh, and I'm not your territory, but I am yours and no one else's". Amanda jokingly scolds.
They arrive at the restaurant and Lee drops off Amanda at the front and says, "I'll be back soon". After parking far away from the other cars, Lee makes a dash back to a waiting Amanda. Her arms are folded, but she doesn't say anything. "What? You think I'd let anyone drive this beauty? And God forbid someone dings my car with their door", Lee tries to explain.
"Yes, I know, she is your baby. You won't even let me drive it", Amanda scolds, "but it's not going to stay pristine forever".
"You are right, but for now I want her unblemished, just like my beautiful wife", Lee responds.
"Gee, you say the sweetest things", Amanda coos.
Their name is called, and they are shown to a booth in the back. Lee orders a scotch and Amanda a glass of red wine. As they wait for their drinks they pour over the menu and decide which appetizer to split and Amanda already knows what she wants for her entrée. By the time the server arrives with their drinks Lee knows what he wants, and they place their order. Lee gets up from his side of the booth and slides next to her and puts his arm around her.
He laces his fingers around hers and asks, "how was your day?"
Amanda replies, "a bit of a bear. I had some research to do and then first thing tomorrow I have an important meeting to attend. It was frustrating, not one of my better days".
Lee sighs and says, "sounds like we are in the same boat. Since both of our days sound crappy, let's skip the small talk. I do have go on location in a few days. I hope I won't be away that long, Philip has that soccer game next week, and Jamie has that big photography assignment due. I promised I would help".
"Oh, no", Amanda says. "You too? I need to complete this photo shoot and am ordered to go out of town as well. I wish I could get out of this assignment, but my boss insists that I go. Maybe it won't take that long. I really don't want to miss the boy's big events".
Lee jokes, "sweet Mrs. F won't let you out of gym class without a permission slip?"
"No, its not her, it's her boss, actually my boss's boss's boss, if that makes any sense", Amanda replies.
Their appetizer arrives interrupting their frustration about impending travel. They each take their forks and split the New England Crab Cakes they chose off the menu.
Amanda sips her wine and says "Let's leave all the work stuff out and start over. Truce?"
Lee lifts his glass up to meet hers and agrees, "truce."
Their entrees arrive and they eat while holding the other's free hands. The server clears the table and asks if they want dessert. Lee replies "a box of your famous chocolate covered strawberries to go please and also the check". Amanda's head rests on his shoulder. "Bad day, I know. For both of us", he says.
Amanda waits by the door, holding their dessert while Lee retrieves the car. He stops in front of the restaurant and gets out to open the passenger door for his wife.
"Thank you, sweetheart", Amanda says.
Lee goes back to the driver's side and slowly drives home. He parks the car in the garage and when they get inside, he turns the alarm on. There is a note from Jamie saying, "Philip and I had our dinner, dishes in the dishwasher and we will be in our rooms if you need us".
Amanda asks, "was it you or me that taught them to be so polite? I mean they were difficult after Joe died, but you turned them around. Thank you so much for being their father."
Lee replies, "I love them as my own. They know that. Our boys are growing up Amanda. Maybe faster than we want them to".
"Lee, sweetheart, I'm sorry, but I am not in the mood for strawberries. Can we put them in the freezer and save for another night?"
Lee agrees, places the box on a shelf in the freezer, but not before writing "hands off boys" in big letters on top. They shuffle upstairs, stopping on the second floor to check on the boys. They can hear Philip on the phone with his girlfriend and in the other room Jamie is typing away on his computer. They walk up one more flight and change into their nightwear, each dreading the next day.
"Goodnight my love", Lee says and kisses her. She responds in kind and then curls up under the covers. Lee wraps his hands around his wife and wishes tomorrow would go away.