"Lee, please tell me you're going to order something more than just coffee?" Dotty questioned him, as they sat in the restaurant in the lobby of the hotel for breakfast. It was bustling with patrons, and they were lucky to get a table to seat all five of them comfortably.
Lee looked up from the menu he was studying and smiled at Dotty. "Normally, I would only drink a cup of coffee, but Amanda has given me a new appreciation for pancakes in the morning, so I was actually thinking of the 'lighter side pancakes'," he replied.
Amanda nearly choked on her juice when Lee spoke. She started coughing louder as she tried to catch her breath. "Amanda, dear, is something wrong?" Dotty raised an eyebrow as she patted her back.
Amanda took a sip of Lee's water and replied hoarsely, "No, Mother, nothing at all. Lee just surprised me when he said he wanted pancakes."
Lee smiled at her, knowing the private joke they shared was completely missed by the rest of the family. "I think pancakes might be my new favorite thing. How about you boys? What do you want for breakfast?"
Philip flipped the menu closed and declared, "The Two-fer. It comes with two pancakes, two eggs over easy, two sausages, two slices of bacon, two pieces of wheat toast." He saw four sets of eyes staring at him so he added, "What? I'm hungry."
"Well, I would like a western omelet, please. Do you think I could have home fried potatoes too, Mom?" Jamie asked politely.
Amanda ruffled her son's hair as she replied, "Of course, and whatever you don't finish, I'm sure your brother will. Everything on this menu looks so appealing, but I think I'm going to get two eggs scrambled with toast and fresh fruit. Mother?"
Dotty pursed her lips and contemplated what to order. The waitress was walking to their table, so she quickly decided, "Belgian waffles with fresh cut strawberries and powdered sugar. Oh, and I can't forget the whipped cream."
They all took turns explaining to the waitress their choices and when she took the menus away Lee said, "You know Dotty if you like Belgian waffles you would love Liège waffles."
Dotty shook her head, confused, "What is that? I'm not familiar with a Lie...lie…. What is it called again?"
Lee smiled and repeated, "Liège waffles. They are also known as gaufres de chasse or hunting waffles. They are made from a dough similar to brioche bread dough, except they are covered with chunks of pearl sugar which caramelizes on the outside of the waffle when it's baked."
Dotty rolled her eyes with delight and stated, "That sounds heavenly. Just where did you get to know so much about these hunting waffles?"
Lee swallowed a sip of coffee and replied carefully, "I was working in Belgium for a time before Amanda and I met. I had some of the most delicious food during that time."
"So how long have you worked for IFF?" Dotty asked innocently as she sipped her coffee.
"Just over ten years now. I've gotten to do a lot of traveling all over the world, but I think I will be keeping things closer to home from now on. I've spent a lot of time abroad, but it was just me without a family. So, it was okay for a time but now, ...well, ...now I'd rather be close to home." Lee rambled uncharacteristically as he continued to cast loving glances in Amanda's direction. Unconsciously, he reached across the table and took her hand in his, fingering her engagement ring lightly.
Dotty did not miss their loving exchanges and commented, "I can take the boys for a while this morning if you two would like to do some sightseeing on your own." She raised one eyebrow in Amanda's direction followed by a discrete wink.
Amanda's mouth formed an 'O' and she quickly pursed her lips together and hissed, "Mother, please."
Lee narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure out what was happening between Dotty and Amanda but, he was interrupted when their food arrived and their overflowing plates were placed before each of them. Everyone dug into their meal heartily, although Amanda became tense. The conversation was suspended until everyone finished eating. Philip managed to eat everything on his plate as well as half of Jamie's potatoes.
Lee requested the bill and while Amanda finished eating, he gave the waitress his credit card to cover the bill. "Thank you, Lee. That was very kind of you to buy breakfast for everyone," Dotty stated as she gently reminded her grandsons they had manners.
"Yeah, thanks, Lee," both boys mumbled under their breath, embarrassed they had to be reminded.
"I think we should make one more trip up to the room, get some sunscreen and decide exactly who's going where," Amanda suggested.
"That is an excellent idea, Amanda," Lee smiled and pushed his chair in. The boys got up and copied him before they took off across the lobby, Lee only steps behind calling out, "Hey, fellas, wait up."
Amanda held back and linked her arm through her mother's as she said sternly, "Mother, what was that all about earlier?"
Dotty feigned innocence as she said, "I don't know what you're-"
Amanda cut her off, "You know exactly what I'm talking about. All your little hints about Lee and I spending time together."
Dotty stopped in the middle of the lobby and turned to Amanda. She glanced from right to left to ensure no one was within earshot as she said, "Sweetheart, next time you and Lee need some… private time… remember to lock the door perhaps."
"Mother, private time? What are you talking about?" Amanda asked incredulously.
"Amanda, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Some men prefer a little loving first thing in the morning. And from what I heard, you seemed to be enjoying yourself as well. After all, I've said it before, he is an eleven," Dotty replied lightly.
Amanda blushed with embarrassment, her cheeks flaming red when it dawned on her. "Mother, what you heard, what you think you heard… was nothing more than Lee massaging my neck. I woke up with a kink in it and he was trying to work it loose so I wouldn't be stiff all day," she explained.
Dotty stared at Amanda for a long minute before she began laughing loudly, drawing attention from the other guests walking around them. "So, when he was talking about magic fingers?" she giggled.
"He was rubbing my neck, yes, Mother. Oh, what am I going to do with you?" Amanda laughed loudly and arm in arm they walked to the elevators. Dotty laughed with her as they rode to their floor.
In the hotel room, Lee was helping rub sunscreen on Philip's back as Jamie sat on the bed flipping through a pamphlet he picked up in the lobby. "Lee, if I go with Mom and Grandma to the art show this morning do you think you and I could take pictures down by the boardwalk?" he asked.
"I don't see why not. Who knows, maybe your Mom and your grandmother will want to head that way also. I think there is a bikini contest down that way too this afternoon," Lee teased Philip.
"I didn't see that in the events list. I'm all over that!" Philip exclaimed as he grabbed the pamphlet out of Jamie's hands to find out what Lee was talking about. Lee laughed loudly when he found it, but what Lee had failed to mention is the contest was really "Big Baby Bikinis" for families with toddlers. When Philip finally found it he shook his head and said, "Thanks a lot, Lee."
"Thanks for what, Sweetheart?" Amanda asked, only hearing the tail end of the conversation.
"Lee was just teasing me about a bikini contest, only it's not a real bikini contest. Well, I guess it is a real one but not one I'm interested in," Philip explained as he pulled his shirt back on.
"Jamie, did you remember to put sunscreen on your ears?" Amanda reminded him.
"Yes, Mom and on my face and on the back of my neck," Jamie rolled his eyes.
"Sounds like you have this all under control then. So, Mother, Jamie and I are going to head up to the art and photography show. Lee, you and Philip are heading down the beach to watch the girls doubles volleyball tournament. Let's say we meet for lunch around one o'clock. Then we can decide what we want to do this afternoon," Amanda confirmed.
"Well, I was just telling Lee I'd like to go down to the boardwalk with him to take some pictures," Jamie said slowly.
"I think that's a great idea. I'm sure I can find something to do with Philip and your grandmother," Amanda hugged him.
"Sounds like we have the start of our day planned. Let's head out!" Lee announced as he opened the door.
Amanda purposefully held back until everyone else was in the hall and whispered, "Mother thought we were having a moment this morning when you were massaging my neck."
"A moment?" Lee asked surprised.
"Yeah, you know… a moment," Amanda stated with emphasis.
Lee narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side as he looked at her, but then her words finally connected. He shook his head as a smile spread across his face. "Does she want a massage too because I'm pretty sure my magic fingers will do the trick if she has a stiff neck, too," Lee teased with a dimpled smile.
"Come on!" Amanda pulled him into the hall by the buttons on his shirt, laughing as they walked to the elevators.