Chapter 13
The family met in the lobby of the hotel to decide what they wanted to do for lunch. There were plenty of food vendors on the boardwalk, so Amanda suggested a picnic on the beach before they parted ways again. Everyone picked a different vendor and twenty minutes later they sat near the water's edge. Amanda sat beside Lee, Dotty across from them and the boys on either side. Jamie was very excited to tell Lee all about Mrs. White's suggestion and pointers on the camera lens whereas Philip told Amanda all about the volleyball games. When he told her the story of the woman who "mistook" Lee for someone else, Amanda raised an eyebrow in Lee's direction only for him to respond with a shrug of his shoulders and a smile. Even Dotty was excited to tell Lee about the artwork they saw and how many ideas she had for where they could hang photographs in their new house.
Lee leaned back onto his elbow, his head close to Amanda's lap. She absentmindedly played with his hair as she looked out over the water. Lee closed his eyes and relaxed to the sound of the waves behind him. While the two adults were distracted, Jamie stood up and walked back a few steps then snapped several pictures, adjusting the setting each time. He rejoined the group and asked, "Lee, can you show me where you proposed to Mom?"
Amanda smiled at her son and looked down toward the opposite end of the beach. She raised her arm and pointed as she said, "You see that break wall down there? It was right in the middle of that."
Jamie stood to get a better view over the crowd on the beach. He could barely make out the stone wall jutting out into the water. "Can we go there? Before we leave?" he asked.
Lee sat up higher, his forearms on his knees as he asked, "What's the big interest in the break wall, Chief?"
Jamie looked down at the sand and dug his toes in before he answered quietly, "Because, that's where we became a family."
Lee sprang to his feet and stood in front of Jamie, his hands on his shoulders. "We are a family, not because of what happened on that wall. We are a family because I care a great deal about you, your brother, your grandmother and especially your Mom. We are a family, no matter what happens," Lee stated.
Jamie looked up at Lee, his hazel eyes wet as he blinked behind his glasses. He didn't say anything, he just put his arms around Lee's waist and hugged him. Lee dropped his chin onto the top of Jamie's head and held him close. He wasn't surprised when he felt Amanda's arms around them. Lee looked up to see Amanda smiling back at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dotty and Philip get up and join them. The group hug lasted for a few more seconds before Jamie sputtered out, "I can't breathe now." Laughing they settled back down in the sand to finish eating.
"Jamie, how about you and I start at the break wall and work our way to the pier? That's just over a mile and I'll bet there will be plenty of things you can take pictures of. There are the boats on the horizon or whatever is washing up on shore," Lee suggested.
"Mr. Stetson!" A voice called to him. Lee looked around and saw Mrs. White heading in their direction. He raised his hand and waved before standing to greet her. "Hello, everyone!" she greeted the family.
"Mrs. White. Jamie and Dotty were telling us about the art show," Lee said with a smile.
Mrs. White looked at everyone and announced, "I'm so excited! That picture just won Best in Show in the Photography division! I had to find you and tell you! I don't know how to thank you."
Amanda stood and gave Mrs. White a hug as she said, "Congratulations! That's wonderful news." Lee followed suit with a hug, the boys opting to shake her hand. Dotty stood back and smiled but did congratulate her as well.
"What's next for you, then?" Lee asked curiously. "You will be the most popular photographer on the beach front."
"Next weekend my husband and I will be in DC for his work conference. Actually, he'll be at the conference, I'll be a tourist for the weekend," she explained. She was smiling from ear to ear, unable to contain herself.
Dotty raised her eyebrows before she said, "Amanda, can I have a word with you… privately?"
Amanda looked at her mother then at Lee. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "Sure, Mother," she replied and the two stepped a few feet away to talk without anyone overhearing.
Lee watched Amanda listen to Dotty then shake her head. They were standing just far enough away that he couldn't hear them, but he could tell by Amanda's reaction she wasn't in full agreement with her mother. Dotty stepped away from Amanda as Amanda covered her eyes and announced, "Mrs. White, I'd like to hire you next Saturday evening if that's okay with you? We are in need of a photographer and well, after seeing what you can do with a camera, there is no one else qualified enough in my book."
Lee met Amanda's gaze with alarm. Thinking quickly, he said, "I'm sure the last thing you want to do on a weekend away with your husband is work."
"Nonsense, Lee! You and Amanda deserve the best photographer for your wedding and from what I've seen, she is the best!" Dotty insisted.
Mrs. White looked from Amanda's pale face to Lee's panicked one to Dotty's stern one and said, "I would love to photograph their wedding. Maybe we can meet later today or tomorrow, just Amanda and Lee and go over all the details."
Lee let out the breath he was holding and nodded, "Yeah, yeah we could do that. Tomorrow before we leave to drive back. In your office? At the hotel?"
With a sweet smile, Mrs. White replied, "How does nine o'clock sound? That won't interrupt your day too much, will it?"
"No, that will be perfect. Mother and the boys can pack the car while we meet. It should be easy enough, right Mother?" Amanda gushed. The nervous butterflies in her stomach were just beginning to settle.
"But I'm paying for this, no matter what the cost!" Dotty reached up and touched first Amanda's cheek, then Lee's. "After all, you only get married to each other once, right?"
"Can we get going now?" Philip interrupted. "I don't want to miss the ice cream fest."
"Well then, boys, let's clean up this mess and head our separate ways again," Amanda declared with a clap of her hands. The boys quickly scrambled to pick up the remnants and wrappers from their lunch and trudged up the beach to throw everything away in the nearest trash can.
"Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. I'll see you both tomorrow morning," Mrs. White said just before she headed in the same direction as the boys.
Lee could see the boys struggling to get everything in the overflowing barrel and announced, "I'm going to go help them." He didn't wait for a reply as he jogged through the sand.
"Amanda, you would tell me if something was going on, wouldn't you?" Dotty asked cryptically.
Amanda put her arm around Dotty's shoulders and said with a squeeze, "Of course, Mother. Why do you ask that?"
Dotty leaned her head against Amanda's and said, "Lee didn't seem too excited about Mrs. White photographing your wedding, that's all."
Amanda squeezed her again as she said, "Oh Mother, he's just camera shy, that's all." What Dotty didn't see was Amanda rolling her eyes skyward.