Yes or No
Colonel Robert Clayton looked at his nephew and couldn't help but laugh. "Well, they have you in the right booth don't they, Son?"
Amanda joined in saying, "Looks like it to me, Sir."
Giving her a scolding look Lee asked, "Since when are you two so chummy with each other? Next."
The blonde that had just been kissing Lee held up four more tickets as Lee took them Amanda said, "I am so glad you out grew your blonde phase. Just try to remember you are only at this booth for about an hour and then you go to the dunk tank."
The blonde turned to Amanda and said, "You mean after this he is going to get all wet?"
Smiling back at her Amanda said, "You bet he is."
Lee didn't feel as comfortable with his partners answer as she seemed about it. "Well, then I think I will just hold on to my tickets for later."
"Mom, you are ruining my booth. I have Lee here because I know he will bring in the money, now will you and my sister go and leave us men to our work please?" Jamie said pushing his mother away and then continuing on with his ring master announcement of Lee.
"Jamie, I think you have plenty of takers. I just hope Lee has plenty of Chap Stick and antibiotics." Leaning over to whisper into Lee's ear Amanda continued, "Remember who you are leaving with tonight."
"Always, I always know." Lee smiled and winked at her as he turned to see a girl of about twelve with braces smiling up at him.
Amanda and Robert continued to walk around the festival talking.
"Mrs. King, I want to apologize for my behavior earlier today. I misjudged you and my nephew. I plan on telling him that as well. I have only met a handful of his girlfriends before and I have to say not one has ever stood up to me the way you did today for him. I know accidental pregnancies happen; I just assumed being older and hopefully wiser Lee would have been more careful with you."
"You know you sound a lot like my mother. She tore into Lee really bad until Lee reminded her he didn't do this," rubbing her belly, "all alone, Sir. I was there and I actually hold most of the blame on this. Lee and I were being responsible, only I failed to remember that I had been on some medication that affected my birth control. I have no doubt that if I had remembered that little fact then this wouldn't even be up for discussion."
"Lee really looked like he was having a good time at that booth."
"I'm sure he was. Most of the people in that line were girls from the school and their mothers. Lee knows the difference in how he kisses them. He knows the difference in how he kisses the older ones as well, or at least he better."
"My question is this, if you two care for one another why are you not planning a wedding?"
Laughing gently Amanda responded by explaining, "Well, we might one day, but for now, Sir, we like it how it is. This is still new and even though we are great friends and work very well together, which by the way you cannot tell my family what we really do. They still think we work for a film company and we are going to keep it that way for as long as we can."
"I understand the meaning of classified information. I just didn't realize that my nephew meant his life. I raised him the only way I knew how. It wasn't how Jennie and Matt would have done it I am sure, they spoiled that child rotten. We all did until their death and he had to grow up."
"Sir, he was five. How do you ask a five year old to grow up?"
"I didn't get Lee until he was seven, so I thought he had enough coddling and stopped all of that."
"Sir, he was still young. Look at my children they aren't much older than when Lee came to be with you and they still need reminded that they are important and loved. I think you two may butt heads more than you would if you both weren't so stubborn to be the one who is always right. You cannot always be right, Sir."
"In my business I cannot afford to be wrong, Mrs. King."
Patting his arm she said, "Lee isn't a business, he is a person, and people need to be shown affection and love from the people raising them. It makes a difference."
"You told me today that Lee puts his life on the line for others every day, he shows respect to you and your family, his co-workers, so Mrs. King, where did I go wrong?"
"Sir, don't get me wrong, you taught him respect of self and others that is very true, but you also taught him how to hide his emotions. Never allowing him to express himself or to believe he was entitled to the happiness that his parents had. Everyone is entitled to that, even you."
Lee walked up to Amanda and his uncle asking, "Amanda, do you know where Phillip is? He has to show me back to my next station."
"Sure the last time I saw him he was chasing Tommy around the gym with a lasso he must have won at the Spinner game. They just made the announcement for a change at the dunk tank, so he should meet you over there. How was the kissing booth?" She asked smiling wide at him.
"Give me a room full of angry Russian agents and me with no weapons any day of the week. I do not ever want to work that booth again!"
Laughing she said, "Oh, but you looked like you were having so much fun, Sweetheart."
"Funny, Mrs. King, very funny. Please tell me these ladies cannot hit a target with a ball? I already feel weird having to get into swim trunks."
"Oh, come on now, Skip, where is your sense of adventure?"
"I have had and continue to have plenty of adventure in my life as it is, I don't think getting all wet for a bunch of horny housewives is on my bucket list of things to do. I already feel as if I have been molested by some of these women. Who was that blonde?"
"She is a whole a lot of adventure that makes your past girlfriends look like turtles running through molasses. It will be fine, Lee, look here is Phillip now. He can take you to your next adventure."
"You will pay for this later, Amanda King!" Lee whispered in her ear as Phillip pulled him toward the table to pick a pair of trucks out.
"One can only hope, one can only hope!" Amanda responded as Lee was pulled from her area.
Lee was staying pretty dry at the dunk tank despite the well paid effort of the blonde that wanted to suck his eyeballs out through his mouth earlier. She had already used her original four tickets to try and dunk him, not to mention the twenty more tickets she went and bought to try.
Amanda walked up to them and said, "Heather, dear are you having some trouble with the dunk tank? It seems to me that Mr. Stetson is still dry, even though I could have sworn I overheard you saying something about you being the one to get him all wet."
"Well, Amanda, I don't think you could do any better in your condition and all, but by all means here try these out on me."
"I would love to, thanks." Amanda took the three balls in her hand and smiled at Lee. He knew he was in for it. He knew she knew how to pitch. He had seen her practice with the boys.
"Be nice, Amanda." Lee said through his big wolfish grin.
"I will be as nice as I can, but you know how your child rules my emotions, Lee."
"His child," Heather stated right as Amanda threw the first ball, missing.
"Well, yes, his child. How did you think I got in this condition anyway, Heather?" Amanda threw the next ball missing again. She saw the relief Lee felt as it missed the target.
"Amanda you only have one ball left, are you sure you can hit the target? Can you see the target?" Heather asked her.
Amanda turned throwing the final ball stating, "Heather, I see more than you think I can." The ball hit the target dead center and the alarm went off just as Lee felt the hitch undo then the next thing he knew he was under water. Rising from the pool soaking wet Lee was grateful that the Festival was over. He got out of the tank and grabbed a towel from the very person who had dunked him in the first place.
Heather stood staring appreciatively at Lee as he wiped himself off with the towel Amanda handed him as he got out of the water. Then she stood in utter shock as Lee grabbed Amanda pulling her into a giant bear hug attempting to get her all wet as well.
"Well, I am going to change and then we can get to dinner, I am starved!"
"Oh, me too, I feel like I haven't eaten all day." Lee looked at Amanda as she said this. "What? I do feel like I haven't eaten all day."
"Amanda, dear, you had a very big breakfast before work." Dotty stated.
"Mom, you said Lee was taking you to lunch after your meeting, didn't you?" Phillip asked.
"Mom, you take a lunch box of snacks for throughout the day, did you have any of those?" Jamie chimed in.
"All I said was that I felt like l hadn't eaten, I never said that I hadn't. Now, Sir, were you driven here or do you need a ride to the restaurant we are going to?"
"I would love to ride with you and your family if you don't mind."
Smiling she said, "Mother, Phillip, Jamie, this is Lee's uncle, Colonel Robert Clayton, he will be joining us for dinner."
"Hello, Colonel." Dotty said extending her hand to his.
Phillip and Jamie waved hello and then began to fight as to who would be sitting in the front seat. The fight quickly ended at hearing Lee from behind say, "Neither of you will. I believe that your mother and grandmother will be in the front while the two of you will be in the back like always. Colonel, you can ride with me, if you like."
"That would be very nice."
The ride in the family car was filled with questions about Lee's uncle from everyone. Amanda answered the best she could. "Now, hold on a minute. Lee and his uncle have a very touchy relationship. The Colonel wasn't very happy today when he found out about this baby, so he and Lee may have some very tense moments at dinner. We have to give him time to get used to all of this just like you all had to. Lee will be nervous and with them alone in his car it could already be World War Three when we get to the restaurant. Boys, I want you two on your very best behavior."
"Okay, Momma."
Amanda didn't know it but she hit the nail on the head about the conditions going on in Lee's cars as the driver guided the suburban streets of Arlington.
"Where are we having dinner at?" The Colonel asked as Lee maneuvered out of the crowed school parking lot.
"Um, well, it is a place where Phillip and Jamie picked out. This is kind of their night so they got to pick."
"I just hope it isn't one of those silly places where one has to fight a mob to eat from a buffet and then has an overly abundant of noise from a play area."
Lee swallowed and said, "It is exactly that kind of place. A lot of families enjoy going to places like that. It is a nice treat for the kids and then the kids get to burn off some extra energy before heading home. This place has everything you could think of to eat. The play area is actually in a separate room from the dining so you don't hear the games and kids while you eat."
"I asked Amanda but I want your side. If you both care for each other so much why there is no wedding being planned?"
"Sir, I know you don't approve of my life style, but never the less it is my life and I like it the way it is. As I told you earlier I never mentioned Amanda when I met up with you in Europe because it was still new, and I feel it still is. Marriage is something I take extremely serious. There has only been one person I have ever considered marriage for and she married some other guy. Amanda has been married and was for a long time, but it didn't work out and I for one do not want to rush her into another marriage when she isn't fully ready for one. If we got married now we know it would only be because of this baby and not because we love one like a husband and wife should. Now if and when we ever do marry, we will let you know."
"Son, love is love. Marriage is something you work at like anything else. You will have your good days and you will have some bad."
"How would you know anything about marriage?" Lee fired off at his uncle.
"I may not have ever married, but I have seen good marriages in my life. Your grandparents had a good marriage. My mother and father had a good marriage and after he died, your grandfather and she had a good life. He took me on as his own son, he didn't have to, but he did. Then your dad was born and UI had a little brother, it could have been worse. Then when he went off and married your mom, I was surprised she was able to tame him. He was a bit of a romancer."
Lee looked at his uncle and said, "You have never said anything about my parents to me before. It was like you wanted me to forget all about them. They were gone and I just had to move on."
"No, I never wanted you to forget them, but I will tell you it wasn't always wine and roses with them two. They could fight like cats and dogs if both felt they had a point to make and it was better than the others point of view. Half the time they were working for the same goal, but both wanted to be right that they never saw it. I even remember them having an argument about you."
"Me? What did I do?"
"Nothing, you weren't even here yet. I don't even know if they knew you were on the way. Your mother and father decided they were ready to have a family and of course my brother wanted nothing to do with the idea of having a girl. He said that girls needed a big brother to protect them. Funny fact, your mother had to remind him that she was an only child and thought she handled herself pretty well before and after meeting up with him."
"When did they find out I was on the way?"
"I think it was about two weeks after that fight, trust me there was more to it than what I told you, but it just goes to show where you get your stubbornness from; both of them."
"I just thought I got all my bad habits from you."
"Lee, you are more like them than you realize. A lot of who you are comes from them and a lot of who your child will be also comes from them, as well as Amanda and yourself. I just want you to be a person your child will be proud of."
Pulling in the parking lot, Lee found Amanda and her family waiting by the door. Smiling he said, "I think my child or future children will be proud of the man I am. I just wonder if you will ever be proud of the man I am, for me and not who you think I should be."
Crossing the parking lot the two men joined the awaiting party. The first thing Lee did was place his hands on Amanda's face, kissed her deeply, and then said, "No. No I will not."
Smiling she said, "Good answer, Stetson."
"A good answer to what question, Amanda?" Dotty asked.
"Oh, I asked Lee to marry me earlier today."
"WHAT?!" was the unified question from the other four dinner companions as they entered the Pizza Buffet.