Chapter 9 – Time Helps the Heart Grow Fonder
The next couple of months went by and Amanda found herself growing fond of Dean. She was not sure she would ever love him but he became like another one of her boys and she found the Motherly side coming out in her. He had been coddled by his Mother all his life which is why his social skills were so absent. She found herself feeling bad for him. She soon discovered that his Mother had never really held him or hugged him while he was growing up and that he spent a lot of his time with a Nanny who also never touched him. It all made sense why he wasn't comfortable touching her. When he told her one day that he had been nominated for Tri City Forecaster of the Year award, she had reached out and given him a hug. She immediately felt him tense up and she pulled away from him and said she was sorry. He told her that he just hadn't expected that. She smiled and took his hand in hers and said that she was happy for his nomination. Dean looked at their hands linked together and looked back up at her with a nervous look in his eyes. Amanda smiled again and let go of his hand.
Later, when Dean was alone, he thought about what had happened. He really liked Amanda a lot and he wasn't sure why her hug had scared him. He decided that it was only because she startled him and he knew he should have reacted differently. In any case, he was happy that she had agreed to be his girlfriend a few weeks ago and since that time, they had gone out at least once a week. She had even agreed to the Arkansas trip as long as she could stay in the second bedroom. Dean was really excited that she would be with him. He had been worrying about going back by himself and now he didn't have to. He couldn't wait to share this adventure with Amanda King.
TBC