Reflections

Chapter 4

Amanda woke to the sun just rising and felt a lot better than she had in a few days but checked her temperature just to be on the safe side.

Sure enough when it was time she looked and smiled at the reading.

98.6!

She got up stating happily, "A-ha! Back to normal! I knew it!"

Gathering her overnight bag she pulled out her sweatshirt top and a fresh pair of underthings and went to take a shower.

As she finished a short time later she got out and put her hair in a simple ponytail and putting her overnight bag to rights came out of the bedroom and commented, "Good morning, Lee! Any coffee?"

But as she came by the couch she heard moaning and groaning!

Looking down at Lee she saw he looked flushed and tentatively put her palm on his forehead and shook her head answering slowly, "Oh, no! Not you now!"

Lee's eyes fluttered and when he saw Amanda he mumbled, "Mmm...Morning. You okay?"

Amanda faintly smiled as she stroked his forehead replying softly, "A lot better than you, Pal. Stay right here while I get the thermometer..."

As she walked back to the bedroom she heard him call out throatily, "I'm-I'm fine, Amanda. It-It's just hot in here. That's all. I-I gotta fix the thermostat..."

But as she came out of the bedroom Lee was hightailing it to the bathroom and made it with just seconds to spare as he heaved over the toilet!

Amanda standing behind him remarked gently, "Looks like you caught what I had! I'm so sorry, Lee."

But Lee shook his head as he got up slowly wiping his mouth with a damp tissue answering with a shrug, "I just must have had something that didn't agree with me. I'm all right."

Amanda thought carefully and asked, "Well, you had the soup at my house and then I don't remember you eating when we got here. Didn't you go to bed after I did?"

Lee remarked carefully avoiding her gaze, "Y-Yeah, but I kinda got hungry around midnight..."

Amanda steered him toward the bed and instructed, "Lie down. Let's check your temperature...C'mon."

Lee growled, "I told you I'm fine! Stop fussing, will ya?"

Amanda put on her mother hat responding firmly, "Get in that bed, Mister! You're not going anywhere for a while. And by the looks of things, neither am I."

She got on the phone dialing the office and asking for Billy.

Billy answered, "Melrose."

But he heard Lee yell to Amanda, "I'm telling you, I'm not sick!"

Then Amanda commented, "Then why did you just throw up? Gosh! You're worse than my boys! Get in that bed!"

Lee obstinately yelled, "NO! For the last time, I'm not sick!"

Holding a hand up to Lee she answered, "Good morning, Sir. I'm just letting you know that although I'm a lot better now, Lee unfortunately isn't and I think he should be out for a few days. In fact Sir, maybe with your permission I could look after him until he's back to normal?"

Lee grimaced, "No! You're going home and I'm taking stomach stuff and heading to work!"

Billy shook his head and smiled remarking, "Amanda, you do realize that normal for someone like Lee could take...um, longer than a few days? At least an entire week?"

Amanda smiled and nodded commenting, "Oh, well. I couldn't possibly take that much time off, Sir."

Billy responded, "Then it's settled. You and Lee will be off the roster until he's back to his standard of normal. Call if you need anything. Take care and good luck."

Amanda replied nodding, "Thank you, Sir. Goodbye."

Hanging up she quickly got the thermometer out of her bag and went to clean it off in the bathroom and coming back saw that Lee had laid down and she put the thermometer in his mouth stating, "Stay put. I'll be back..."

She quickly went to the kitchen and assessed what inventory he had in the fridge. There was the soup and a package of dip.

She warily took the dip out and checked the date while smelling it.

It had expired two days before!

She made a face and cleaned out the container and ran the disposal!

She then heard Lee mumble something and she went back to check on him.

Taking the thermometer out she read it while Lee sitting up commented tiredly, "See? I'm fine..."

But Amanda shook her head and showed it to him stating, "Read it and weep. I'm sorry, but you are definitely sick here."

Lee sighed as he stared at the temperature which was at 100 degrees and answered glumly, "I can't be! I'm in tip-top shape. Can you get me some chips and dip?"

Amanda commented retorting gently, "No! It's tea and toast for you when you can handle it, all right? Now, lie down and get some sleep. It's the best thing for you."

As he laid down she put the covers over him and he was out like a light.

Making sure the curtains were closed she left the room with her bag.

Putting the bag by the couch she sighed and getting on the phone dialed her house.

Dotty answered, "Hello?"

Amanda commented, "Morning, Mother. It's me. How was your trip?"

Dotty smiled reproachfully, "It was very nice, Dear. But I'm sorry you weren't well. You know we would've come home if you had called, don't you?"

But Amanda waved it away stating, "It was just a cold and then it was a stomach thing, but I'm much better today. I was in fact coming home soon, but a friend of mine from work caught it and now I'm taking care of him."

Dotty's curiosity was piqued as she asked, "Him? Who is it, Darling?"

Amanda closed her eyes shaking her head as she thought, Darn! Thought I could slide by this one...

Sighing Amanda answered, "It's Mr. Stedman, Mother. You remember my mentioning him once or twice, right?"

Dotty nodded remarking, "Oh, yes. Your boss. He's a bachelor, isn't he?"

Amanda nodded wanting to end the conversation commented, "Yes, Mother, he is. But-"

Dotty quickly queried, "Then by all means, Dear. Stay as long as you need to until he's better. I imagine he has no one there to look after him, correct? And being a bachelor, his fridge isn't stocked with the most healthy things, is it?"

Amanda rolled her eyes as she thought, It's like she's here and she knows something...But how?!

Amanda then commented quickly, "Um, Mother... I have to go now. Give the boys my love and tell them I'll call them later, all right? I love you. Bye."

She hung up quickly before Dotty could ask anything else and remarked, "Whew."

Going to the kitchen she replied, "Now to make a grocery list and clean up a little here..."

TBC