Changes
Chapter 3
Lee was having a talk with Amanda's boys about the lamp in the family room that had just been broken while he went to his car for a moment.
He couldn't believe he didn't foresee this happening!
Without knowing them all that well to begin with, Lee knew from Amanda's description of them that they were basically good kids but they understood the ground rules she set for them anyway...Or were supposed to!
As they sat on the couch Lee stood in front of them asking, "Okay. Which one of you wants to tell me exactly what happened here?"
Phillip and Jamie looked at one another and as Jamie shook his head Phillip answered, "Well...we were talking about the football game we saw a few weeks ago and the spiral move one of the players made to get a touchdown...It was awsome! So, I challenged Jamie here to try it. Only he missed me by a mile and the ball hit the lamp instead. We're sorry, Mr. Stetson. We got our homework done and were just goofing around. Think Mom will be mad?"
Lee sighed replying, "That depends."
Jamie queried, "On what?"
Lee remarked, "On how fast you guys can clean this up before she gets-"
Just then they heard a car pulling into the driveway and Lee shook his head commenting, "Oh, boy! Looks like you fellas have some 'splainin' to do..."
Phillip made a face and asked, "Huh?"
Jamie rolled his eyes answering, "The "I Love Lucy" show. Remember? That guy Ricky was always saying that to Lucy?"
Phillip sighed responding, "Oh, yeah...Hey! I know! We can get some glue someplace here and glue the thing back together!"
Jamie nodded in excited agreement replying, "Yeah! She should like that we're trying to fix stuff instead of her having to buy a new lamp! Thanks, Mr. Stetson!"
Before Lee could stop them the boys quickly gathered up the mess and headed out to the patio with the lamp and glue that Phillip found!
Sighing Lee went out to greet Amanda and queried lightly, "Hi. Can I help you with the groceries here?"
Amanda nodded and then commented, "Yeah, but I was hoping that the boys could. Where are they?"
Lee stated quickly, "Uh, out back...Here, let me take that and let's go inside..."
Grabbing a bag from her while she held the other one he kissed her cheek remarking, "So. How did it go at the museum?"
Amanda sensed Lee was hiding something as they entered the house and she responded, "Fine. When Francine gave me your message she told me she'd debrief Billy so I could check on things here."
Giving her fiance' a curious look she queried, "Everything's all right, isn't it?"
Lee swallowed and commented, "Sure! Couldn't be better..."
As she got to the kitchen out of the corner of her eye she noticed the missing lamp in the family room and putting the bag down on the kitchen counter she called out, "Boys! I'm home! Please come in and help me put these groceries away!"
She then heard from Phillip who answered, "Uh...We're working on something, Mom! We'll be in soon, okay?"
Amanda looking at Lee shook her head and sighed replying, "No, Phillip! Right now, Young Man! And bring your partner in crime with you!"
The boys came in slowly looking defeated and Lee helplessly shrugged at them as if to say, I tried, Fellas!
Amanda seeing the guilty look on all three faces answered to her sons, "Okay. Thank Mr. Stetson for getting you home and start putting all these groceries away, will you?"
The boys nodded and she then asked Lee, "Could I see you outside for a minute, please?"
As they headed out the patio door Lee groaned inwardly thinking, All I wanted to do was something nice. Why does it feel like I'm going to be lectured here?! Jeez!
When Lee followed Amanda outside he shut the door but the kitchen window was already slightly opened so the boys tried being quiet in order to eavesdrop on their conversation!
Amanda sighed and commented, "Okay, so what happened with the lamp? I know that those boys know not to play sports in the house...Let me guess. The lamp was broken already when I pulled in and the boys wanted to try to glue it back together like on "The Brady Bunch"?
Lee shook his head answering, "Uh, I'm not following. Was that a movie or TV show?"
Amanda was dumbfounded and remarked rolling her eyes at him, "Oh, c'mon! It was on TV! You're just as old as I am, MIster! Don't tell me you never watched it?!"
Lee trying not to lose patience with her shook his head at her responding, "Sorry, but I don't remember it. Refresh my memory. What did they do to their lamp?"
Amanda shook her head stating, "It was a vase and one of the boys broke it but he didn't admit it until the end of the episode...Look, the point is this. If we're going to get-"
Just then a plane flew over the house annoying the boys because they didn't hear the rest of the conversation!
As the plane left the area finally Lee and Amanda came back into the house and Amanda commented, "Okay, Fellas. Let's sit down and you can explain what happened to the lamp, all right?"
They sat with Amanda on the couch as Lee sat in the wing chair.
Phillip answered, "It was a football throw we tried like in that game a few weeks ago? I threw to Jamie, but he missed and the lamp got toasted...We're sorry, Mom. We won't do this again."
Amanda scoffed replying sternly, "You're darn right you won't do it again! You know better than this, Guys!"
When the boys guiltily nodded Amanda sighed and commented, "Okay. Accidents happen, but you're still gonna have to be punished here. Now...Two weeks. No TV, no video games. And where is the football in question?"
Jamie reached down and pulled it out from underneath the couch handing it to his mother.
Amanda shook her head as she took it from Jamie and looking in Lee's direction asked, "And I suppose you weren't in the room when this happened?"
Lee clearing his throat as the boys eyed him answered softly, "Uh, no. I had to call Billy about something..."
Sighing he remarked glancing at the boys, "I did tell them I'd be back in a minute. They were doing their homework then, anyway."
Amanda nodded knowing he meant he'd made the call from his car phone and getting up went to the kitchen counter to see if Dotty had left a note.
Finding one it said:
"Dear Amanda,
Billy had the flu, so his mother isn't picking the boys up today, but Justin's mother is and asked if they wanted to have dinner with them. I told them that would be fine. See you later. Love, Mother."
Lee concerned queried, "What is it?"
Amanda shrugged answering, "Oh, Mother left a note. But I didn't know about Justin's mother supposedly picking them up. Francine just said the ride didn't show-"
The phone rang then interrupting her.
Amanda picked it up answering, "Hello?"
It was Justin's mother replying, "Oh, Amanda! I'm so sorry about not getting the boys! Were they able to get home all right? I just feel terrible!"
Amanda smiled eyeing Lee and nodded stating, "They're fine. I had a friend from work pick them up but they appreciated the invitation anyway. Thank you so much!"
The woman commented, "I wouldn't have forgotten them. Honestly, Amanda. But my in-laws arrived unexpectedly and well...you know how things just happen."
Amanda nodded and responded with a light laugh, "Oh, I sure do! Well, I won't keep you from your family. Take care and we'll see you soon, all right? Bye, bye."
As Amanda hung up she noticed Lee's expression and asked quizzically, "Hey...Something wrong?"
Lee realized Amanda was looking at him worriedly and shrugged commenting, "N-No. I'm fine."
Looking at his watch he got up from the wing chair and replied quietly, "Um...I'm gonna get going. See you tomorrow at work."
Looking at the boys he half smiled answering, "Nice to meet you, Boys. See you around sometime."
Phillip and Jamie nodded and remarked together, "You, too! Thanks, Mr. Stetson."
Amanda sensing something was off with Lee as he walked out the front door and queried to the boys, "Would you check the freezer please and pull out the pork chops? I think we'll have those tonight...Oh, and the frozen carrots as well. I'll be right back."
She closed the front door as she went outside and saw Lee at the curb in his car just sitting there brooding.
Swallowing hard Amanda knew that meant he was bothered by something.
Going to the curb, she knocked gently on the passenger door.
Lee lowered the window responding, "I'll be gone in a minute. I'm just...thinking about things."
Amanda sighed and asked, "Can I join you?"
Lee shrugged and opened the passenger door for her.
Getting in Amanda closed the door and putting up the window she stated, "Okay. I'm sorry I didn't thank you for getting the boys today. But when I found out you were the pick up for them it threw me just a bit. I mean, this isn't the way I thought you'd meet them for the first time."
Shaking his head Lee answered quietly, "Yeah, well. Nothing here is the way it should be with us right now and it's my fault-"
Amanda gasped querying, "How in the world do you figure that?"
Lee stated with a groan and chuckled lightly, "Because I pulled you into this life of espionage and you woulda been better off staying safe without me around. I mean, look. We have to hide what we are to each other now and then Birol kidnaps you. And I couldn't help myself when I went to see your mom for the first time at that point...Something inside told me I had to, you know?"
Amanda swallowed and nodded rubbing his shoulder as she responded softly, "Yeah, I know. Okay. So nothing right now is conventional with us. But it's gonna work out."
Cupping his chin and turning his face to her she commented, "You know how I know that? Because of your actions today, Sweetheart. It told me that no matter what, you'd be there for us and I love you for that."
They shared a tender kiss and Lee pulled back replying, "Thanks, Honey. I love you, too. I was just feeling a little insecure here. And I'm sorry I didn't get to contact you beforehand but Billy said he'd let you know, anyway..."
Amanda noticed Lee's eyes focusing on something and she asked, "The boys are watching us from the window and have been, right?"
Lee was amazed and shook his head commenting, "How did you-"
Amanda smiled and shrugged remarking, "I'm a mother. I have two eyes behind my head. I know all and see all."
Lee laughed and responded, "Oh, yeah? Well, watch this..."
Lee looking in the boys direction gave a wink and as Amanda turned, the boys immediately left the window!
Amanda and Lee shared a laugh then with Amanda stating, "Well, that was fun. But I'd better go in...So, are we all right now?"
Lee sighed and nodded replying, "Yeah. We're good. So, see you tomorrow?"
Amanda kissed his cheek answering, "Can't wait. Bye."
She got out of the car and as he pulled away she gave a wave and went into the house.
This would get easier for them somehow...
TBC