CHAPTER 31

Part 1

Jeannie Melrose sat down beside the bed that Amanda King was now lying in and watched with sorrow as the younger woman coughed and shivered.

"Drink some water child. It will help," she told the younger woman who had now become her charge.

Amanda sipped a little of the cooling beverage, then leaned back against the pillows, obviously spent from the effort.

"Where's Lee?" she asked.

"With William. He'll be here soon," Jeannie reassured her.

"What is going on, why won't anybody say anything?" Amanda asked.

"I think Lee will have the answers," Jeannie told her. "You just need to rest until he gets here."

Amanda frowned, then covered her mouth as another coughing spell overtook her.

Jeannie Melrose watched with heaviness in her heart. She did not want to be the one to tell Amanda what was going on and yet, if Lee did not return soon, she feared that she might have to. Amanda was far too inquisitive, even if she was deathly sick.

It was then that Jeannie noticed the rings on Amanda's left hand, a glittering diamond and a solid gold band.

While she had not been expecting to see that, Jeannie concluded that it would make for a change of conversation.

"They're beautiful rings Amanda," she pointed out.

Amanda glanced down to her left hand, where Jeannie's gaze was fixed. It was only then that she realized that she had not removed her wedding rings before leaving the house. The thought had never crossed her mind. If she had not thought of it and Lee obviously hadn't either, she silently wondered if his was still on his hand.

Amanda raised her eyes and found Jeannie still looking at her, obviously awaiting some sort of response or explanation. How did one explain something that was not supposed to be public knowledge and how did one explain it without the aid of her better half?

"Shoot," Amanda murmured.

Jeannie smiled. "I take it you didn't want that noticed."

Amanda shrugged as she looked back down at the rings. They were far more than beautiful pieces of jewelry that she regretted immensely not being able to wear more than she had during her and Lee's brief marriage. Amanda couldn't even put into words what they meant, what they symbolized.

She had never meant for them to be seen, not like this, not when Lee was absent from her side. And now, the wife of the boss who they had tried to keep this from was now privy to their little secret.

"Does it matter now," Amanda asked softly.

"When?"

"February," Amanda whispered. "February."

When Amanda raised her face back up and looked at Jeannie, the elder
woman saw dark pools filled with tears.

Part 2

Lee Stetson wasted no time in returning to Kelford's office. The doctor was sitting at his desk, looking wearily at a pile of folders on his desk and ignoring his ringing phone.

"Doc?"

"Scarecrow."

"Where's Amanda?" Lee asked brusquely.

"Before you head anywhere, hold out your arm. For once, I don't think you're going to refuse my bedside manner."

Lee's response was to hold out his arm, impatient to get to Amanda and willing to do anything that returned him to her side.

Wisely, Kelford wasted no time in injecting Lee with the standard antibiotic.

"Come back and see me in twelve hours, and I mean that."

"I will. Now, where is she?"

"Next room on the left."

Lee turned quickly and headed right back out of the office, nearly running straight into Yusef El-Keri.

"Sorry," Lee apologized hastily.

"It is nothing," Yusef told him. "I know that you are going to see Amanda, but afterward, my friend, there is work to do and you are going to need my help."

Lee nodded grimly.

"Give me a few minutes, okay?"

Yusef nodded.

"I have nowhere to go, my friend," he replied even as Lee began walking away. "It would seem that they have detained me for the duration."