Chapter 24

"Amanda? Is that you?" Dotty called from the garden.

"Yes, Mother, it's me," Amanda called back as she dropped the bag of groceries she was carrying onto the island counter.

Dotty came in the back door, brushing the dirt off her hands. "I'm glad you're home early. Lee's uncle called earlier looking for him," she announced.

"Really? I know Lee tried to call him but didn't get through. I think he said he left him a message with the operator on base," Amanda replied as she pulled the groceries out of the bag and laid everything out on the counter.

"I invited him to dinner with us tomorrow night," Dotty informed her.

"Mother, you did what? I'm not even sure if Lee's going to be here tomorrow night. He's got a lot of work to do on the new project he got assigned to this week," Amanda said quickly.

Dotty planted her hands on her hips, cocked her head to the side and said, "Amanda, what do you mean you're not even sure if he's going to be here tomorrow night. You do know what tomorrow night is."

Amanda leaned forward on the counter and thought for a few seconds as she stared at her mother. "I don't have a clue, Mother," she said, finally.

"Well, it's Tuesday. And you know what happens on Tuesdays?" Dotty folded her arms across her chest and blinked at Amanda.

Amanda closed her eyes and shook her head. She sighed loudly as she said, "I know it's the night Lee makes dinner with the boys. But, Mother-"

"But nothing, Amanda. Tuesday night is now special, and Tuesday night dinner is now Lee and the boys' night. It doesn't get any simpler than that. Now, do you want to give me another reason why Lee's uncle can't come for dinner?" Dotty interrupted Amanda.

Lee walked into the kitchen behind Dotty and stated, "My uncle's coming for dinner? Since when?"

Dotty spun around at the sound of his voice. "Oh, Lee I'm so glad you're here. I was just explaining to Amanda that your uncle called earlier looking for you and I thought it would be really nice to invite him to dinner tomorrow night. Isn't that wonderful?"

"No, Dotty, it's not wonderful. My uncle isn't that type of guy. His idea of family dinner is a mess hall with five hundred other officers. I'm afraid we'll have to figure something else out," Lee stated as he pressed his lips together.

Dotty propped her hand on her hip and pointed at him with the other, "Lee Stetson, you're going to stand here and tell me that your uncle, your flesh and blood, wouldn't want to have dinner with his nephew and his soon to be family?"

Lee shook his head and simply said, "No, Dotty, he wouldn't."

"I don't believe you!" she exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air. "I don't believe you would be unwilling to give him a chance."

"I never said I would be unwilling to give him a chance, Dotty. I just know my uncle, and dinners like that are not his thing," Lee shrugged his shoulders as he walked around her to stand beside Amanda. "What did the Colonel say when he called?" Lee asked.

Dotty rolled her eyes and said, "He said he was returning your call and he was looking forward to seeing you. Which is why I thought it would be a wonderful idea to invite him to dinner tomorrow night."

Lee reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. He unscrewed the top, took a long sip then said, "I'm sorry to tell you, you're wrong. Besides that, I was going to see if the boys would help me tomorrow after school."

Dotty knitted her brow, narrowed her eyes as she folded her arms and asked, "Help with what?"

Lee grinned at Amanda before he said lightly, "I was just going to see if they would help me move a few things."

Dotty looked at Amanda, who was also grinning, and asked, "Move what things? Lee, are you hiding something?"

Lee reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the keys to the new house and said, "No, Dotty, we're not hiding anything. These are the keys to our new house and I was going to see if the boys would be willing to help me start moving the boxes out of my apartment tomorrow."

Dotty rushed forward, grabbed Lee by the arms first, then pulled him close for a hug. "Oh, Lee! Amanda! The house! I forgot all about the house!" she yelled. She released Lee then grabbed Amanda for a hug. She pulled Lee in for a group hug as the boys came running into the kitchen.

"What's going on, Grandma?" Philip asked, confused by the commotion.

"They got the house!" Dotty exclaimed again, snatching the keys from Lee's hand and waving them around.

Jamie smiled wide as he asked, "You got the house?"

Lee nodded, his grin growing wider as Amanda chimed in, "We got the house."

"And I get my own room!" Philip shouted, throwing his arm around Jamie's shoulders.

Jamie brushed Philip's arm off and stated, "I finally get my own room. I won't have to share with the slob anymore."

"Who are you calling a slob, worm brain? Just because I don't alphabetize my books or color code my closet doesn't make me a slob," Philip defended himself.

"Jamie, now that isn't very nice. And Philip, no one is saying you're a slob, but I am gonna tell both of you to stop calling each other names," Amanda scolded them.

Philip rolled his eyes and looked at Jamie as he said sarcastically, "I'm sorry." Jamie didn't reply, he simply nodded his acceptance.

"So what do you say, fellas? You want to help me move some boxes tomorrow after school?" Lee asked excitedly.

Jamie stopped smiling and said, "But, tomorrow's Tuesday. We make dinner on Tuesdays."

Philip climbed onto one of the kitchen stools as he agreed, "Yeah, we make dinner on Tuesdays. I was hoping we'd make tacos. And homemade salsa with guacamole dip."

"I do have a recipe for a good guacamole dip," Lee added. "But I was hoping to start moving some boxes into the garage tomorrow."

Dotty looked at her grandson and added, "And besides that, Lee's uncle is coming for dinner tomorrow."

Jamie looked at Lee, adjusted his glasses and asked, "Your uncle's coming for dinner?"

Lee looked at Dotty and stated firmly, "My uncle is NOT coming for dinner tomorrow!"

To be continued in Promises Fulfilled.