Passageway

Chapter 6

Lee and Amanda felt like they'd been put through the wringer lately and once they reached the apartment after their argument in the car at the park, went to lay down in the bedroom.

They both agreed they weren't ready to reconnect as yet so they just held each other and nodded off for a nap that they both desperately needed.

Before doing so however, Lee set the alarm so that they could get up and get themselves together before going to have dinner with Dotty.

When they were awakened several hours later they got up feeling as though it had just been one of those catnaps that they took turns doing on late night stakeouts.

Amanda showered first and later while fixing her hair stated to Lee, "I'm glad I left some clothes here. Makes things a bit easier, you know?"

Lee nodded and responded, "I know what you mean. Oh, I left a packed overnight bag in your closet at the house for the same reason."

Amanda half smiled at him and remarked, "I'm gonna put on some coffee to wake us up a bit while you finish getting ready."

They got to the house about seven and Amanda called out as they entered, "Mother? We're here."

Dotty then appeared on the stairs and came down greeting them commenting, "Hello, Dear. Lee."

They all went into the kitchen where Dotty responded, "Everything's on warm in the oven. We could eat now or talk?"

Amanda looked at Lee and he answered Dotty evenly, "Uh well, Amanda and I really didn't get a chance to have lunch today so we'd just as soon eat if you don't mind."

Dotty smiled lightly and stated, "That's fine. Would you like a drink?"

Amanda responded, "I'll get us drinks. Is the table already set?"

Dotty nodded as Amanda went to the refrigerator and Lee got the glasses. Dotty got the plates from the oven as Amanda poured the drinks.

Lee helped bring the heated dinners to the table while Dotty and Amanda brought the drinks and then Lee seated both ladies before seating himself.

Clearing his throat he stated, "It looks delicious, Dotty."

As they began their meal Dotty remarked, "Thank you. It's a new stew recipe using lamb. Mrs. Barton gave it to me. I hope you like it."

They were quiet for a time as they concentrated on the meal and then Amanda asked, "Have you heard from the boys, Mother?"

Dotty swallowed her bite and took a sip of her drink and then responded, "Yes, I did as a matter of fact. They're staying with Joe tonight after all because tomorrow is Teacher Conference Day, but don't worry. Joe will bring them home before dinner. I assume that's all right, isn't it?"

Amanda shrugged and answered, "Of course it is."

After a while when it appeared that everyone was finished Dotty surveyed Lee and Amanda's plates and asked, "Anyone for seconds? I have plenty?"

Amanda shook her head and stated, "No thank you, Mother. I'm full."

Lee put up a hand and replied, "No. I'm fine Dotty, thanks."

Dotty sighed and got up remarking, "Well, let me get to these dishes and then we can relax-"

But Amanda got up and commented, "Oh no, Mother. Lee and I will clear. You go on in the family room and we'll be there shortly."

Dotty watched as they got all the plates and silverware and then the glasses and she responded with, "You wouldn't perhaps be trying to dodge the discussion would you, by getting on my good side?"

Amanda chuckled as she filled the sink with soap and hot water while Lee got a dry dishtowel. Getting to work Amanda stated, "No, we understand your concerns about what you found out earlier and we'll try to tell you what we can. Within reason, of course."

Dotty came over and leaned against the counter near them and commented, "Of course. Mr. Melrose's orders?"

Lee sighed as he dried off one of the plates and stated, "Dotty, the term "need-to-know" is something we all have to adhere to for everyone's safety. Otherwise the entire Agency as we know it is compromised and necessary adjustments would have to be made."

Dotty shrugged and remarked lightly, "So you and Amanda get transferred to another agency. People get promoted and change jobs all the time. We'd adjust. As long as the boys wouldn't have to change schools in the middle of the school year right, Amanda?"

When they were both silent at the question Dotty furrowed her brow and set about putting the leftover dinner in a container to store it in the fridge and answered, "The boys can have this tomorrow night.."

She finished and without another word, headed to the couch and sat down. Lee and Amanda looked at her and then one another and finished up the dishes quickly. Amanda asked, "Mother, would you like some coffee? I can-"

Dotty shook her head slowly responding, "No thank you, Darling. What I would like is some answers now, please. Lee, maybe you'd like to start by telling me just what you were thinking by putting my daughter's life in danger all this time?"

As Lee came over and sat in the wing chair he stated carefully, "I'm sure Amanda told you about how we met. I just asked her to deliver a package for me and that was all. I never thought I'd see her again after that but things got complicated and she helped get us out of the mess we were in after that."

Dotty then narrowed her eyes at Amanda who joined her on the couch replying, "Your father and I raised you to think sensibly and you've been running around for years behind your family's back doing God knows what with this man! This stranger!"

Amanda swallowed hard responding, "Mother, I love him and he's protected us all these years before you knew him and after! Please try to understand. Yes we do work for the government, but we can fix it so the house is secure with no bugs. The Agency people will throw a net around the house if there's any trouble-"

Dotty sighed in confusion and muttered, " A net? Bugs? You mean like the time you had an exterminator tarp the house and the boys and I had to stay with Aunt Edna? That wasn't really termites or whatever?"

Amanda took her hand and shook her head replying, "No, Mother. Some people were after me that time and I had to stay in an Agency safehouse so I got you and the boys to leave in case they went after you-"

Dotty pulled her hand away from Amanda's and got up to get an aspirin stating, "I don't believe this! I simply don't believe this!"

Amanda rose from the couch to go to her but Lee put a hand on her shoulder suddenly responding, "Uh, let me.."

Lee went to the kitchen and commented, "Dotty, you have no reason to trust me at all at this point and I understand. However, I love your daughter with every fiber of my being and I would never let anything happen to her intentionally. The time we were on the run from our own government is thanks to an enemy agent who made sure we were labeled as traitors to this country. I even told Amanda to stay here where she'd be safe but she of course refused. She's stubborn to a fault but as brave and courageous as they come even though it killed her to be away from her family. But I brought her home in one piece.."

He hesitated at the next sentence as he continued remarking, "Her shooting however, was an accident although I'll spend the rest of my life regretting even taking her there. Yes, we planned to do the wedding the proper way and have you all there but things got in the way-dangerous things. And I made the decision to have us elope. And when the path cleared we did have the wedding we originally wanted. But then the Monterey case happened and here we are."

Dotty was silent for a moment taking everything in and then swallowed the aspirin she took with water.

Amanda looked at Dotty carefully and queried, "M-Mother, what are you thinking?"

Dotty shrugged and remarked blankly, "I don't know, really. Maybe it's time the boys stayed with Joe for a while-"

Amanda quickly replied, "What? In Africa? Why? There's so much unrest in that part of the world-"

Dotty stated simply, "And there's a lot of unrest here in this house as well. Who's to say where they'd be safer right now.."

She headed for the stairs and responded, "I'm afraid I'm done for the day. You can see yourselves out or not. I really don't care. Goodnight."

Amanda cried out as she began climbing the stairs and yelled, "Mother, wait!"

But Dotty ignored her as she shut her bedroom door!

Amanda turned around and slowly came back down and Lee took her hands and commented gently, "Honey, let's just go and give her time to process it all-"

Amanda shook her head and responded, "What if she's calling Joe right now-"

Lee stated, "C'mon. You saw her. She's too upset to do anything that rash right now, okay? Let's just come back in the morning, huh?"

But as Amanda and Lee left in his car that night they were both worried...

TBC