The Christmas Coup
Part 2
"Amanda," Joe lightly touched her shoulder, "I'm going to take off. I promised some friends I'd stop by if I had time."
Amid the flurry of activity surrounding Joe's departure, Amanda couldn't help but notice Lee's continued reticence to jump into the middle of the action. It wasn't that he hadn't had a good time, because he talked, smiled and laughed. But a few times she had noticed a look in his eyes that made her think he was lost in the 'what if' world.
His statement from the bar earlier, "It might be different if I had a family of my own," ran through her head for the hundredth time. She wanted him to feel more comfortable with the boys, but how to go about that hadn't presented itself until seeing Phillip chasing Jamie with a can of spray snow. "Now I just need to find the ammo," she mumbled, opening the door to the hall closet to search for the supplies needed.
Coming up empty, she peered into the family room to see what was happening. The boys and Lee were playing Clue, her mother was reading her newest romance novel and Aunt Lillian was upstairs taking a bath. She just hoped that what she was looking for was in one of the cabinets in the dining room and not in the family room. For her idea to work, a surprise attack was best.
Several quiet minutes later, she had looked in all the crevices in the living room and had worked her way through the side tables in the dining room. "That only leaves the hutch," she murmured, opening up the door to peer inside.
"Amanda? What are you looking for, Darling?" Her mother's voice startled her, causing her to move too quickly, bumping her head.
"Ouch!" She grabbed her head and quickly spun around, "Mother," she scolded, "you shouldn't sneak up on me like that."
"Sorry." Dotty glanced into the open door. "You didn't answer my question. What are you looking for in there?"
I'm," she hesitated a few seconds, "oh, alright. I could use some help. I'm looking for..." but then she heard footsteps and whispered the rest into Dotty's ear. "So, what do you think?" she asked anxiously.
Dotty's grin turned devilish, "What do I think?" She rubbed her hands together, her smile taking on a different look as if she was planning a secret, "I love it. Why don't you go tell the boys to come to the kitchen and I'll fill them in?"
"Thanks, Mother." She kissed her mother's cheek and turned to leave, but the look on her mother's face left her unsettled, "Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Dotty jumped as if she hadn't realized Amanda was still there. "I'm fine. Now go on." she shooed her away, as if she were trying to get rid of her.
"Well, okay." Amanda glanced back one more time but seeing no reason to stay, followed the boys' voices to the family room where they were finishing their game.
"Who won?" She stood between Lee and Jamie, placing an arm around each.
Jaime grinned, "I did!" he boasted, "Mrs. Peacock did it in the library with the candlestick. It was easy. Worm Brain, here," he pointed at his brother, "thought it was Colonel Mustard."
"Don't call your brother Worm Brain," she reminded him.
"Sorry, Mom," he mumbled, picking up the pieces to put them back in the box.
Amanda watched Lee for a few minutes as he handed the boys the game pieces that were closest to him and folded up the board. He was quiet, almost unusually so, she thought, taking the box and placing it on the shelf. "Congratulations, Sweetheart," she ruffled Jamie's hair. "Why don't you fellows go find Grandma, I think she has something for you."
"Okay, Mom," both boys jumped up. "I'm sorry you didn't win, Mr. Stetson," Jamie shrugged his shoulders, "I just must be a better detective then you."
When Lee opened his mouth to respond, Amanda had to fight the grin that threatened to break out on her face. He glanced sideways at her, the sparkle that had been missing, returning to his eyes. "Good game, Boys. Maybe next time."
As soon as the boys scampered off, she whispered, "Did you let him win?"
~~~smk~~
Lee put his hand over his chest, mock indignation on his face, "Who me?"
She looked around the room, a smile playing along her mouth, "I don't see anyone else."
We're alone?" he questioned, "and I've not done this?" He wrapped his hand around her neck, pulling her close for a quick kiss. "I must be slipping." He sent her a big smile, dimples on full display.
"Oh, I don't know about that," Amanda flirted. "That wasn't bad."
"Wasn't bad?" He frowned pushing up from where he was sitting, "I'll show you..." He took a step toward her, only to be brought up by giggles of both boys running toward him, aiming cans shooting a sticky string like substance.
"Got you." Phillip laughed, spraying him with the pink strings.
Lee turned surprised eyes Amanda's direction, "What the..."
"Silly string." She laughed. "Looks like they got you, Sweetheart."
Lee's Agency training, as well as his competitive nature, kicked in and a quick look around allowed him to assess the situation. With no warning, he leaped forward, picked Amanda up, twisted his body and placed her in the line of fire, before heading to the kitchen and grabbing his own 'weapon'.
After that, it was a free for all with Amanda and both boys against him. Lee found it didn't matter which way he turned, there was always one...or two cans waiting for him, until wads of the pink string hung off his shirt. He had taken several hits, but had also gotten in a few on his own, his favorite catching both boys unawares, and spraying them at the same time. Luckily for them, Amanda was a good partner and had rescued them, but he could feel his can emptying, and was going to pay his fiancée back.
He had been circling the downstairs area for several minutes, luring one boy one direction and then the other direction, pleased to note that their cans appeared finally, to have emptied. Telegraphing he was going one direction, but taking off the other, he set his sights on Amanda. Taking her up on the challenge her eyes issued, he wrapped her in his arms, tossing her on the sofa, his arms barely keeping him from landing directly on top of her.
Her eyes flared with awareness before locking on his lips. Almost, against his will, his arms began bending, narrowing the distance between them. Her mouth parted, gentle puffs of air escaping to lightly brush across his, reminding him it had been hours since he'd had a taste. Closer, he drew, until he could feel the heat of her lips reaching for his, but a slight sound drew his attention away...reminding him of where they were. With regret, he pushed up, pulling her to her feet. "I win," he taunted with a wink.
"That's no fair," she grumbled. "You're bigger."
"And there were three of you," he countered her argument.
She shook her head good naturedly, but out of ammunition the game was over and with a little extra prodding, she sent Phillip and Jamie up to bed.
"Should I leave?" Lee whispered in her ear as soon as the boys were out of the room.
"Well," she glanced toward the kitchen, "I have a bottle of wine...if you want to wait a few minutes."
Lee realized he felt like he belonged for the first time all evening, and really didn't want to leave just yet. She had shared her family with him, even staging a coup that forced him to participate in the activities and to quit standing on the fringes. Mindful of the extra eyes around, he took her hand, gently kissing her fingers, "There's nothing I'd like more."
"Nothing?" she flirted.
His eyes widened and were immediately drawn to her lips once more, "Amanda!" He quickly looked over his shoulder to check on her mother's whereabouts.
"Now don't tell me you weren't thinking the same thing," she teased, nodding toward the couch.
"Are you sure you want to go there?" He raised his brow in question, his mouth moving closer to hers.
Her eyes held his, the desire to take the step there for him to see. He waited, part of him hoping she would take the leap, but the other part fearful that she would. What would she do? What did he want?
The time they stood there, their gazes locked, could have been measured in hours, but he was sure was nothing but a few seconds. He held his breath, waiting for her to take the next step, and then...she glanced over his shoulder and her eyes shuttered. "Mother," her gaze returned to his, regret in them of the missed moment, "will you show Lee which wine we bought for tonight?"
"No problem, Dear." He heard her mother answer, but didn't turn around, just waited and watched Amanda.
With a little sigh, she took a step back, "I'll be down shortly." She squeezed his hand, before disappearing upstairs.
He watched her go, his thoughts on the complications of their relationship and how when they were married, it would...
"She chickened out, didn't she?" Dotty's voice pulled his thoughts back to the here and now.
"Excuse me?"
"My daughter," she waved her hand in his direction. "You threw down the challenge nicely and all she had to do was take one step, and..."
"Ugh, Mrs. West," he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to think of what he should say.
"It's Dotty, remember?" she corrected him before he could decide how to steer the conversation in another direction. "Now, don't go making excuses for my daughter," she picked up the bottle of wine and waved it around, "I know how she is and I think I have just the thing. Here." She shoved the bottle in his direction, "You know your way around the kitchen, right?
He grabbed the bottle of wine, barely taking hold of it before she let go, and watched her rush out of the room. After standing there for several heartbeats and his name hadn't been called, he found the corkscrew and proceeded to open the bottle, pouring a generous dollop into a glass.
"Oh, good," Dotty rushed back into the kitchen, "you got it open. Now," she took a sip from the glass he had just poured, barely swallowing it before continuing, "You can have this," she presented him a sprig of...was that mistletoe...with a flourish.
Slowly, he reached to take the plant, but just before he touched it, she pulled it back out of his reach. "You can hang this," she held up the sprig with one hand, while rifling through a drawer with the other. "Voilà." She held a tape dispenser aloft, "With this, and then she can't chicken out. Follow me."
Yes, ma'am, Lee thought, following her to the fireplace where she proceeded to give him specific directions on exactly how and where to place the plant in order to get the maximum effect. During her speech, he felt like he was in high school again and was being given instructions on how to get to first base with his girl. What would she think if he told her normally he had no difficulty getting to any base with Amanda, and had even scored a few home runs? he wondered, as he took the tape and placed the sprig on the ceiling.
"This plant," he stepped off the chair he had used to reach the ceiling, "is really not necessary."
"Lee, now just wait," she held up her hand, halting anything else he would say. "It's okay. Amanda needed a little push and I'm happy to help. In fact," her voice dropped to a whisper, "when the time is right, I have a few catalogs you might enjoy looking through."
He cleared his throat, whether it was to keep from laughing or crying, he wasn't sure, and looked wildly around the room for a distraction. "Uh, do you have any large trash bags?" He pointed to the remnants of the wrapping paper lying about the room, as well as the piles of silly string from their war. "I could pick up before Amanda comes back down."
"That's a good idea." She scurried into the kitchen, coming back with a large trash bag. "Here, you can pick up the paper and that pink stuff and I'll just make sure all the gifts are accounted for."
As he picked up the remnants left behind from unwrapping the gifts and the sticky string, he was surprised by how quiet the room had become. Several times, he looked over his shoulder to see what Dotty was doing, but when he found her smiling at him, a contemplative look on her face, he quickly glanced away, his thoughts turning to what could be keeping his fiancée.
"Amanda should be down shortly." Dotty answered his unspoken question. "Sometimes the boys like to stretch out their bedtime by talking about whatever pops into their heads." She shook her head, taking her wine glass and sitting down on the sofa.
He wasn't sure how to respond as the truth was, those type of things were what he was hoping to learn. Being a part of Amanda's life was what he wanted, and that meant every part of her life. "I'll just take this outside." He closed the bag and escaped out the back door.
Several inches of snow already covered the ground and by the looks of things, it wasn't slowing down any time soon. Should he leave? Maybe, but he really wanted to spend a little adult time with Amanda.
"Lee," Dotty met him at the back door as he was returning. "There you are," she ushered him inside, "I was worried you were lost."
"No, no, I'm fine," he smiled gratefully when she handed him a towel to brush the snow off his clothes and dried his hair. "I was just," he shrugged, "enjoying the snow, that's all."
"Well, if you're sure," she picked up the wine bottle, handing him his glass. "I put on some music. I hope that's alright."
He looked around the room and what he saw had him biting his lip to keep them from curling up into a smile. Not only had she given him the mistletoe, but with the music she had chosen, she was setting a scene for something way beyond first base. Would she dim the lights next and offer to disappear upstairs?
"The music is nice," he smiled, "and so is the company. Thank you again for inviting me into your home."
Dotty took a quick sip from her glass and placed her hand over her chest, "Having you here has been...eye opening," she hesitated, "but in a good way." she finished.
Lee sat down, propping one arm on the back of the sofa, and placed his right foot on his left knee. Eye opening, he thought, that's an interesting answer. What did she learn and should I treat it like an interrogation to find out?
"Listen to me go on," she jumped in before he had formulated his answer. "Anyway, you care about Amanda, a great deal, don't you?"
"Yes, I..."
But before he could complete his sentence, she jumped to another topic. "I don't want you to worry that I'm going to stay down here and cramp your style."
"Oh, no. I..."
She continued as if he hadn't said anything, "As soon as Amanda comes down, I'm going to go upstairs and leave you two alone."
"That's not necessary..." he felt obligated to say, even though he appreciated the thought.
Yet again, she didn't give him time to finish his sentence, before continuing, what was quickly becoming a monologue. "Did I tell you how much Carl and I loved listening to George Benson?" she asked referring to the artist whose album she had given him.
"No, but if you give me a few minutes to change out of this damp shirt, I'd love to listen." He headed toward the dining room where he had left his weekend back.
"I'll wait right here for you." Her voice followed him.
~~~smk~~~
"Mom?" Phillip's head popped off the pillow for yet another comment.
"Yes, Phillip?" Amanda usually loved bedtime conversations with the boys, but with her mother and Lee downstairs alone, she was somewhat anxious to get back down to rescue her fiancé.
"Tell Lee thanks again for the awesome video game."
"I'll be sure and do that. Now, go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day."
"Night, Mom." Both boys mumbled, their voices already heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight and Merry Christmas." Closing the door, she stopped by her bedroom exchanging her black pants and red sweater for a pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt. After letting her hair down and running a brush through it, she slipped on the long chain holding her engagement ring and started back down.
Nearing the bottom of the stairs, she could hear the gentle hum of her mother and Lee as they talked and unable to prevent it, her lips automatically curved up into a smile. He had been so nervous when they arrived, even staying in control while they were unwrapping gifts, but once attacked by silly string, his expressions had quickly moved from shock to surprise and then the devil inside of him woke up and came out to play. From then on, the laughter from the boys and Lee himself, had caused her heart to flip a time or two. The evening had been filled with so many good moments to remember, that she couldn't wait to see what other memories were waiting. Her Christmas was turning out perfectly and she hoped the same could be said for Lee.
The flickering lights from the tree and the fire welcomed her as she stepped into the family room. "Oh, Darling," her mother greeted her, "are the boys in bed? Lee and I were just getting acquainted."
The fact that her mother was grinning like a Cheshire cat had her slightly wary of what had transpired in her absence. "They both wanted to talk about their presents, but once their heads stayed on the pillows, all was quiet." She looked from her mother to Lee, a slight frown on her face. "Why do I feel like I walked into the middle of something? What did I miss?"
"Nothing, Dear." Dotty quickly answered, but the innocent look on her face said the opposite. Amanda thought about saying something else, but since Lee hadn't left and was smiling, she assumed whatever her mother had shared, couldn't be anything too bad...or at least she hoped it wasn't.
"I hope you two don't mind," Dotty stood up, the mischievous grin remaining, "but I'm going to go have a good long soak in the tub and then go straight to bed. You know these bath beads are supposed to be relaxing so I'm sure I will be dead to the world until morning. And you know Lillian," she continued, "she takes a sleeping pill and once her head hits the pillow...that's it. So, I'll see you in the morning." With her wine glass and the bath beads in hand, she took the two stairs out of the family room, "You two have fun, now, and," she hesitated for a few heartbeats, "don't do anything I wouldn't do." Her laughter followed her up the stairs.
"Mother!" Amanda exclaimed, staring after her. "What did I miss?" she finally asked as she slowly walked toward Lee.
"Oh, nothing." He pulled her close, the sexy grin that never failed to make her mouth water, covering his face.
"Nothing?" She slid her hands up over his shoulders to toy with the soft hair at the nape of his neck, "Looked like I walked in on something."
Lee nuzzled her ear, "Does it really matter?" his husky voice tickled, sending tingles along her skin.
She glanced around the room and seeing they were truly alone, realized it didn't matter. What mattered was what was happening right here, right now. Someone had set the scene for romance and she was in the arms of the man she loved. "No," she admitted softly, lightly kissing his neck, the subtle smell of his cologne causing her heart to skip a beat or two.
"Good," he whispered, "I'd hate to waste that." He leaned back just far enough to point above them.
Amanda followed his finger up to see a tiny sprig of mistletoe hanging above them. "Where did," was all she got out before his lips covered hers and all thought flew from her head. She sank against him, telling him with her lips how very much the evening had meant to her.
Lee cupped her jaw with his warm hand, angling her head, taking the kiss even deeper. Their hearts raced, so in sync, it was almost as if they were two halves of a whole. The past disappeared, leaving behind only the present with the future beckoning.
The kiss went on, threatening to burn out of control, until a bright flash startled them apart, "What was that?" she barely had the wherewithal to ask, before their lips were drawn back together.
Lee groaned, tugging her closer to his firm body, "Does it matter?" he muttered against her mouth, swallowing anything else she might have said.
Time ceased to matter as their mouths communicated in a language only they knew and understood. Questions asked by one and then answered by the other. He knows how to kiss, she thought and his hands, "Mmm," she hummed when he palmed her behind, pulling her closer, cradling her softness against his much harder body.
Rational thought threatened, but the popping of the fire had her cupping his face, her dark eyes staring into his, golden with desire. She slid her thumb across his full bottom lip, meaning to step away, but his lips sucked her digit into his mouth and she had to have another taste. He tasted of wine and something that was unique to him. A taste that if she were blindfolded and had to kiss several men until finding him, she would know immediately.
"Amanda," Lee released her lips, moving instead to place small kisses across her cheek before burying his face against her neck. "We need to stop before it's too hard..."
She wiggled against him, eliciting a groan from deep in his chest. "Feels like it's..."
"Maybe I should just go..." He kissed her again, her laughter relaxing the spell surrounding them.
Her whole body sagged, and, with regret, she stepped back creating distance between them. "If I promise to be good, will you stay a little longer?" She smiled up at him, her eyes pleading.
He didn't say anything, but took her hand, pulling her down on the couch, fitting her against his side. "I can't say no to you." He kissed the tip of her nose, "Would you like your wine?"
"That would be nice." He handed her a glass and for the next few minutes, it was quiet, both lost in their own thoughts listening to the music.
~~~smk~~~
The possibility that the weather would come into play when it was time for him to leave had crossed Lee's mind a time or two in the last hour. When he had taken the trash outside earlier, while the snow was still falling, the temperature had been colder. That the roads could be dangerous was a possibility. That the low-slung sports car he drove did not perform well on ice and snow...a definite.
The opening strands of Winter Wonderland started, and he allowed himself to get lost listening to the lyrics. Leaning his cheek against the top of Amanda's head, he closed his eyes, relishing all the new feelings consuming his body. "You know," he murmured, "I think this is a first."
"A first what?" She asked just as quietly.
"The first time I ever allowed myself to just relax," he admitted, "and listen to the words of a Christmas song."
"Well," she tilted her face toward him, "It's nice there are some firsts we can share." she teased.
"Watch it." He grinned, tapping her on the nose, following it with a quick kiss on her lips.
She chuckled, "Sorry, I couldn't resist." They listened quietly for a few seconds as the song continued. "Lee…" Her eyes had lost the teasing glint. "You said something earlier today that's stuck in my head."
He knew exactly which of his comments she was referring to, as he had seen the look on her face as soon as it had escaped from his mouth. "Amanda," he ran his hand through his hair searching for the right words, "I'm sorry about that. I was a jerk, okay?" He knew what he was keeping her from, but it hadn't mattered, he had just plowed right into the middle of the situation, pulling her along with him. Even Billy had tried a hint or two, but he had ignored them, putting his feelings ahead of hers.
"Stop that," she set her wine glass down and turned her body more toward him. "You were just worried about your friend..."
Lee put a finger on her mouth, stopping the flow of words, "I appreciate you giving me an out, but," he sighed, ducking his head, because he couldn't stand to see the disappointment in her eyes. "The truth is, I was scared." He glanced up, then back down again quickly, "I was just looking..."
This time she was the one who laid her finger over his lips, "Lee, I know." Slowly, he lifted his head, their eyes colliding, his vulnerable and hers...understanding as she continued, "You were worried about the boys and Joe and all of the unknowns, and you felt more comfortable in a situation that you had a greater chance of controlling. I get it. But," her voice dropped a little lower, "you forgot something."
"I did?"
"This," she pulled the long chain out, holding her engagement ring up between them. "You said 'maybe when I have a family,' but Lee, now, you do. Me, mother, the boys...we are your family."
He happened to look over her shoulder, his eyes landing on a picture of the boys and Dotty, and a self-deprecating smile crossed his face, "You're right...as usual." he conceded. "That's what you've been trying to do all evening, isn't it? Trying to make me feel that I belong."
"You do belong," she bestowed a brief kiss on his lips. "Every year we'll add new traditions until one day," her hand caressed his face, "you won't remember being alone. I love you."
Lee's chest felt tight and a warmth spread throughout his body, starting in the vicinity of his heart, "I don't ever want to be alone again." he whispered, claiming her lips in a kiss that soothed and comforted, ratcheting up the warmth he was feeling.
The silence in the room as the record came to its end had their lips parting. As their breathing evened out, Lee searched for something to say but there didn't seem to be words that expressed everything in the manner he wanted. Wrapping her in his arms, he pulled her onto his lap and just held her, "Thank you, Amanda. Thank you for sharing all of this," he gestured to the tree and the fire, "and most importantly, thank you for loving me."
"Oh, Lee," she tightened her arms around him, "my pleasure. Now," she stood up and turned off the music, "how about a movie?" She giggled, "I know just the one."
"Do I even want to ask?" he wondered aloud after seeing the mischievous smile dancing on her face.
"Probably not," she pushed it into the VCR, before settling on the couch in his arms. "You might find the main character somewhat of a kindred spirit." she pointed out as the intro began and he saw what she had chosen.
As the movie A Christmas Carol began to play, and Lee watched Ebenezer Scrooge's life change, he tightened his hold around his own magical being. She had opened his eyes in ways he never would have imagined, giving him a whole new outlook on life. When he had asked her to just walk with him, he hadn't known that he was asking her to walk with him in life, but it had been the best four words he had ever uttered.
Less than thirty minutes into the movie, Amanda's body relaxed against his. Unconsciously, he tightened his arms, holding her closer to his heart. When the chain with her engagement ring bounced against his hand, he worried that it would get tangled and eased it over her head. The ring was beautiful as the light of the fire caused the diamond to glow, but never as beautiful as it looked when it was on her finger. Would there ever be a time when it didn't need to stay hidden? He wasn't sure, but his desire to keep it safe had him looping the chain around his wrist and slipping the ring onto his little finger. As soon as she was awake, he would put it back where it belonged.
She stirred in his arms and while he probably should have sent her up to bed, he was loath to let her go. With a few twists, he resituated them, both laying down, him spooning her from behind. The twinkling lights from the tree, mixed with the flickering from the fire and the shadows from the picture on the screen, served to relax his mind and body.
While Ebenezer was guided by his ghosts, Lee's mind was given free rein to drift. He found that his thoughts had moved from what he had missed and why he had become a Scrooge, to how much he had changed. An encounter at a train station, a box and a woman who had given him reasons for...everything. Because she was walking with him, he was ready to bury his ghosts from the past and focus only on their walk, making memories for now and for the future.
"Merry Christmas, Amanda. I love you." Lee kissed the top of her head, tucking her closer against him, and joined her in slumber.
~~~smk~~~
When a noise just on the edges of her mind refused to disappear and allow her to stay asleep Dotty finally, opened her mind to her surroundings. "Lillian!" she moaned when she realized it was her sister's snoring that had woken her. "Turn over!" she groused, covering her head with a pillow.
Lillian snorted a few times before finally turning over and the snoring decreased from a locomotive to a gentle hum.
Dotty readjusted her pillow, trying to relax back into sleep when her bladder reminded her of the several glasses of wine she had before bed and with a groan, she climbed from her warm covers, making her way to the bathroom. Her business completed, she shut off the light and opened the door, not to the dim light Amanda kept for the boys, but to flickering images coming for downstairs. "They're still watching television?" she questioned. But when she heard the steady hum of the test pattern, she decided they must have left the TV on and decided to turn it off.
As she made her way down the stairs, she kept her ears open, just in case there were sounds that she might need to ignore, causing her to scurry back to bed. Not hearing anything but the steady hum, Dotty peered around the door into the family room to see that, not only had the television been left on, but so had the tree lights. "Those kids," she shook her head, taking the last few steps down into the family room, only to be stopped in her tracks by the sight before her.
One hand immediately covered her heart and the other her mouth, keeping her from exclaiming loudly and risk waking the sleeping couple. They're perfect, she thought, tiptoeing across the room to shut off the television.
When she turned back around, she couldn't help but stare at the picture that her daughter and the man she loved presented. They were asleep on the couch, tangled around each other as if they couldn't get close enough. Amanda was stretched out in front of Lee, his leg thrown over hers, his head nestled in the bend of her shoulder and his arm holding her tight.
Dotty picked up the quilt that Lillian had given to Amanda for Christmas and opened it to spread it on the sleeping lovebirds. She gently draped it over their legs, their hips, pulling it a little higher and then...
Her breath lodged in her throat and she was suddenly very happy that she hadn't turned off the Christmas tree lights. Her eyes locked on the glint of gold as the light bounced off something on Lee's hand. Holding her breath, Dotty bent forward, focusing all her attention on what she saw, hoping...praying that it was what she wanted it to be.
Closer, she drew, careful to continue to hold her breath, fearful that if they felt her presence they would wake up and the surprise would be ruined. She could see a thin gold chain around his wrist and on the little finger of his left hand...a ring! Dotty felt like squealing with happiness, finally biting down on her finger to contain her excitement. Engaged! she silently cried. The mistletoe had done its part!
Carefully, she lay the quilt on top of them and tiptoed out of the room to make her way back to bed. She couldn't wait until they shared their news.
~~~smk~~~
Christmas Morning
Dotty hurried down the stairs early on Christmas morning, anxious to celebrate with Lee and Amanda. "Merry Christmas, "she breezed into the kitchen expecting them to be waiting to share their news with the family. "Anything new?"
"New?" Dotty watched Amanda sneak a glance Lee's direction. "It's Christmas and," she shrugged, "I'm making biscuits."
"Biscuits?" Dotty's brows went up in surprise. "Are we celebrating something?"
"You know how it is, Mother? Sometimes you wake up and think it's a biscuit day and well," she waved her hand in front of her where she had rolled out the dough, "you just have to make them."
Dotty surreptitiously looked at Amanda's ring finger, but seeing no ring, frowned in consternation. She's trying too hard to hide something, she decided, wondering if she'd have more luck with Lee.
"How about you, Lee?" She poured herself a cup of coffee, pinning him with her best stare, "Anything new?"
He was standing at the stove and looked over his shoulder with a dimpled grin, "I know the bacon's almost done." He quickly turned away, almost as if he was worried she was going to ask him something else.
Why are they hiding it? she couldn't help but wonder.
"Mother," Amanda slid the pan of biscuits into the oven. "Why are you asking?"
"How did you know it was Phillip who broke that candle that you kept on the table in the living room?" she asked hoping Amanda took the bait.
"Oh, that was easy," Amanda smiled at her, "A mother always knows." Her eyes widened with dismay as she realized the meaning behind her words.
Gotcha! Dotty smiled triumphantly, "Just remember that. Now," she set her cup down, "I'm going to go see what's keeping the boys and Lillian."
On her way out of the kitchen she couldn't keep from laughing when she intercepted the look Lee sent Amanda's direction. Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that conversation, she thought as she walked up the stairs. If they wanted to see who could be the most stubborn, she had no concerns that she would win.
Merry Christmas, My Darlings. Let the games begin.
~fin
So now you know one of my headcanons...that Dotty knew much more about their relationship than they knew. I'm hoping someday I'll get a chance to write up the others pieces. Merry Christmas my SMK friends.