The Truth and Truce of it All

"Do I love your mom?" Lee repeated the question. Lee felt the wind leave his lungs and almost thought he would never breathe again.

Jamie nodded and he said, "Mom always said that when two people love each other they have babies. You and my mom are having a baby, so do you?"

Amanda's heart sank for Lee. She knew he wasn't ready to admit how he felt, love or not, neither was she if being honest. That thought scared her. If this was just an attraction and not something deeper, how would that affect the baby?

"Jamie, there are all kinds of love and I can honestly say that I do love your mom."

Amanda looked over at Lee and asked, "What?"

Taking her hands in his, Lee looked her in the eyes as he explained, "Hear me out, Amanda. I can say that I love you because you are caring, compassionate, open minded, logical, and a whole list of other reasons, but the main reason is that you are one of my best friends and I don't know what I would do without you. No, we do not always see eye to eye at work, but in the end we still get the job done together. This will be no different. We are not always going to agree on something that pertains to the baby, but in the end we will figure it out."

"Mom, is he telling the truth?" Jamie asked not really sure if his answer was really answered or not.

"Yes, Sweetheart, he is telling the truth." Tears began to settle in her eyes as she answered her youngest son.

Lee feeling more confident said, "Okay, Sport, any other questions?"

"Not from me, but I think Phillip will have some when he is done pouting. I already told Mom that I want a sister."

Lee blanched at that statement. "Why do you want a girl?"

"I already have a brother, why would I need another one? Besides this time I am the big brother."

"Phillip will also be the big brother to this baby too, Jamie." Amanda pointed out as the three headed into the house so Amanda could start dinner.

"Yeah, but he told you he wanted a brother and he got one. It is my turn to pick." Jamie left the two adults in the kitchen looking at one another before they started laughing.

"Makes sense, Stetson, I hope you don't disappoint him. You have chosen the sex of this baby, not me." Amanda reached in to pull out the chicken pieces she was making for dinner. Turning she asked Lee, "Are you staying for dinner?"

Lee walked over to her and pulled her in his arms kissing her, "Is it just dinner you want me to stay for?" Lee laughed as he watched the blush color her cheeks.

No I want you to stay forever! She screamed in her head while outwardly she said, "I don't think even you could explain that one to my mother."

"What? Like I am going to get you more pregnant?" Lee laughed as Amanda smacked his shoulder.

Lee was helping Amanda make the salad when Dotty came in and said, "Amanda, I think you need to go talk to Phillip. He went into your room and locked himself in there and won't come out."

"Okay, Lee I will be right back." Amanda left to head up the stairs as she did she heard her heard Mother dig in to Lee.

"What in the hell were you thinking when you got my daughter pregnant?"

Lee stopped chopping the tomatoes to turn and look at Dotty, "What?"

"You heard me. If you have known her for almost a year then you know what it is like for her. Raising two boys on her own, only working part time, trying to cover the bills and take care of everyone around here. What were you thinking adding to her stress like that?"

"Have you even stopped to think that your daughter was there with me?"

"Yes, but Amanda has tunnel vision with men at times. She thought Joe was a wonderful man, and in his own way he is, but he is not here."

"I could honestly say that if he was still here I wouldn't be." Lee said as he began to pace in the tiny kitchen adding to his frustration as he realized he had no room to pace.

"Last week when Amanda fell and you responded the way you did, I got the impression that you cared and respected her." Dotty said as she picked the knife up and continued cutting the tomatoes.

"Well, if my calculations are correct Amanda was pregnant at that time, what changed your mind? Why do you think I don't care or respect your daughter?"

"A man that respects a woman would have taken precautions to prevent this. You didn't so I can only assume…"

"You do know what assumptions do, Mrs. West?" Lee asked raising his voice slightly at the allegations that she flung at him.

"Now wait one minute, you get my daughter pregnant and you want me to just be all happy about it? I don't know what kind of person that you think I am, but I am not as forgiving as my daughter."

"I don't recall asking anyone for forgiveness." Lee stated.

Dotty stood looking at him as Jamie bounded in the kitchen asking, "How much longer before dinner, I'm starving?" Jamie noticed the standoff between his grandmother and Lee then thought it was the best in his best interest to just leave the room.

Amanda knocked on her door, "Phillip, honey, let me in please so we can talk."

"Go away!" He yelled.

"That isn't going to happen besides this is my room, now you can either unlock the door letting me in or I can have Lee pick the lock and let me in." Amanda waited hoping the threat would arouse his curiosity about her statement enough to get him to unlock the door. She didn't really want to go back in the kitchen from the sounds coming out of it from her mother and Lee.

Amanda heard the lock click followed by Phillip turning the knob and her door opening. "How does he know how to pick a lock?"

Walking in her bedroom she sat on the bed, patting it for him to join her. "Lee knows a lot of things. He is a very smart man, which is one of the reasons I enjoy working with him. I learn a lot from him, but in the same regard he learns from me as well. Now how about you tell me what is bothering you so bad, is it the baby?"

Nodding in embarrassment Phillip said, "I don't care that you are having a baby, I just don't want you to have one with him is all."

"Why, you don't even know him. Lee is a really nice man; you will come to know that."

"Are you going to marry him because you have to like you done with Dad?" Amanda was shocked at the question.

"Phillip, what are you talking about?"

"Mom, I can do math. You and Dad got married because you were pregnant with me. Dad had to marry you because of me. I don't want a step-father that is only one because he got you pregnant and did the right thing."

Smiling at his thought process Amanda said, "Hey, for one your dad and I were already planning on getting married, we just moved the date up. That marriage was going to take place no matter what. I love your dad very much. He was my first big love. Not to mention without him I wouldn't have you or your brother."

"Mom, I know that but what about this new baby?"

"Lee and I are not going to run out and get married because I am having a baby. Does that make you feel better?"

"A little, but it is just, that, well" Phillip began to stutter.

"Phillip, what is it?"

"If you and Lee have a baby, then it just seems to me that could be one more reason you and Dad will never get back together."

Hugging him close Amanda said, "Sweetheart, even without this baby or Lee in my life, you have to understand that your Dad and I are not getting back together. We are finally at a point where we are really great friends again. I love your dad, but I am no longer in love with your dad and that is a big part of any relationship."

"Do you love Lee?" Phillip asked while he wiped a few tears from his eyes.

"Just between you and me, yes I do. Although, we have to keep that between us, I am not ready to tell him that just yet."

"Mom, love sounds hard."

"It is one of the best and worse things that will ever happen to you. Now what do you say we go downstairs to save Lee from your Grandmother and vice versa. It sounded like it was turning into World War Three down there."

Phillip and Amanda came to the bottom of the landing when they heard Lee yelling at Dotty, "You don't know a damn thing about me, how can you stand there and judge me like this?"

"I am not judging I'm going on facts. The facts are that she is pregnant and you can up and leave her anytime you like."

"Mother, what do you think you are doing?" Amanda asked shocked at the state of the two in the kitchen.

"Amanda, I just don't understand how you could allow this man to do this to you."

"Phillip, please go outside with your brother. I need to talk to your grandmother and Lee." Amanda waited until Phillip was outside and the door closed before she turned to the two at the island.

"Okay let's get this all out. Mother, Lee did not get me pregnant alone, I was there obviously. Lee and I have known each other since I took Dean to the train station in October. That is where we met. Shortly after that I started working with him, helping with reports and typing. The day that you and the boys left my car broke down on the way to pick Lee up. I walked for over an hour in the burning heat, in heels all the way to Lee's apartment. When Lee got home he found me asleep in his room. He fixed me dinner and well you can guess the rest. No, Lee did not use protection. I didn't think anything about it because I am in the pill. Unfortunately, the week before I had been on those antibiotics for that stupid summer cold. They can cause birth control pills to be ineffective. I don't know what kind of man you think Lee is, but he is not reckless at least where this is concerned. You can't just blame Lee. I am sorry you are not happy about this grandchild, but never the less there will be one. I really just want all of you to get to know Lee because he is going to be around for this baby's life."

"Well, where was he all this week when you were so upset?" Dotty looked toward Lee for an answer.

"On location, I don't exactly get to pick when I go out of town or for how long sometimes. Considering the fact that I was in Europe at the time Amanda was, Amanda did you continue to take your pills after I left?"

"Yes, of course. I stopped taking them when I found out. Why?"

"Can that harm the baby?" Lee asked walking over to her and placing his hand on her back and stomach.

"I will have to have some tests done later when the baby is bigger to find out of there was any harm done. Lee, don't look like that, I am sure that everything will be just fine." Amanda placed her hands on his face before pulling him into her arms for an embrace.

Dotty watched as she saw how her daughter calmed his fears. She began to realize that they were in the beginning stages of love, even if they were not aware of it. "Amanda, I never wanted you to think I wasn't happy about having another grandchild, I am, I'm thrilled, but my concern is for you too darling. I know how you have been hurt before and I wouldn't want to see you go through that again."

"Mother, I understand that, but the one thing I learned from that was to live in the moment and not worry the future. Whatever is going to be will be, but I know one thing, Lee will be in his child's life just as Joe is allowed in the boys' life. In turn that means you need to get along with one another. Find a way to make a truce." With that Amanda walked out of the kitchen and went in the backyard with her boys leaving Lee, Dotty, and the uncooked chicken alone together.

"Well, I guess we could start with dinner and go from there. How does that sound, Mrs. West?"

"It sounds like a plan, Mr. Stetson."