Passageway

Chapter 7

It was before eight AM as the phone rang in the apartment.

Lee groggily answered, "Hello?"

It was Dotty. "Good morning, Lee. Could I please speak to Amanda?''

Her tone was cordial at best which only meant she was still ruffled by the previous day and night's discussions.

Clearing his throat he nodded answering, "Of course. Just a minute, please."

Putting the receiver down, he reached over to gently shake his wife awake stating, "Amanda.. Hey, Amanda? Wake up, Honey. Your mom's on the phone. She wants to talk to you."

Amanda mumbled something and then rolled over and pulled herself up and responded confusedly, "What? Mother?"

Lee nodded and kissed her remarking as he got out of bed, "I'll start the coffee. Go on. She's waiting..."

He left the room and Amanda yawned shaking her head and got the receiver responding, "Morning, Mother. How are you? Did you sleep well?"

Ignoring the questions Dotty replied, "I need you to come home. Joe is on the way. I've asked him to drop the boys off at Aunt Lillian's. See you shortly. Oh, and I don't mean you and Lee. It only concerns the three of us. Goodbye."

Before Amanda could ask anything, Dotty had hung up!

Amanda hearing the click on the other end stared at the receiver commenting, "What in the world?"

Lee appeared in the doorway and saw her expression and queried, "What's up, Sweetie?"

Amanda shook her head as she hung up the phone and looked at her husband stating, "I dunno. She asked me to come home for some reason but she said just me, not you. I don't like it already. I mean I know she's upset with both of us, but you're my husband and I include you in family meetings-"

Lee sighed and sat down next to Amanda on the bed and remarked, "Honey, I'm not offended, okay? I'm the newbie here and I really don't-"

Amanda bristled answering, "Hey! When we got married, I took your name! That means you should be included in all discussions! I'm calling her back and-"

She reached for the phone but Lee pulled her back responding, "Whoa! Stop, okay? Look. I'm gonna head to the office. You go over and find out what's going on and if I need to know anything we'll talk later, all right?"

Amanda sighed and retorted, "But-"

Lee kissed her soundly and commented, "You go get ready and I'll bring your coffee in. Want some breakfast? I could make an omelet-"

Amanda shook her head and headed for the bathroom stating, "I'm not hungry. You go ahead."

She closed the door and Lee was surprised. Whatever happened to the bacon and eggs routine with that woman, he thought as he got up shaking his head and went back to have his coffee and bring hers into the bathroom for her.

She came out to the kitchen a little while later bringing her cup and kissed Lee stating, "Thanks for the coffee. I'll see you later."

She left and Lee noticed the coffee was barely touched. Oh boy, he thought as he headed to the shower. She's really worried.

Later as he left the apartment he thought, Nothing to be gained by stressing here. It'll be fine, he hoped as he pulled out of the complex.

When Amanda got home and came in the door she found Joe and Dotty having coffee in the kitchen.

Dotty replied, "Good. We're all here. Now, I thought I should be upfront about my idea to both of you instead of calling a third party-"

Joe and Amanda looked at each other both being puzzled by her comment.

Amanda responded, "Mother, what are you talking about?"

Dotty remarked calmly, "I want to petition the court for custody of Phillip and Jamie..."

Both Joe and Amanda were flabbergasted and Joe spoke first questioning, "What? What brought this on, Dotty?! We already have a custody agreement that's working fine-"

Dotty retorted, "Oh, baloney! Some agreement! You have visited scarcely since you and Amanda first broke up, and don't give me any nonsense about your job! You are their father! You have a responsibility towards those boys and-"

Amanda cut in, "Mother, they understand about Joe's job with the EAO. It took a while for them to adjust but they're okay now. He visits as often as he can and he sends child support. You know that-"

Dotty turned on her daughter just then and responded angrily, "And you! When you got that so-called job of yours with IFF, I assumed it would be a regular job where you did actual documentaries and did the location stuff-"

Amanda commented, "It's called location scouting-"

Dotty sighed and answered, "I don't care what you call it."

Looking at Joe she then responded, "She's in and out going all over the place with her "Indiana Jones" traveler-"

Amanda couldn't believe this was her mother talking and answered hurtfully, "He's my husband and your son-in-law! Don't be like that! He's done a lot for us-"

Joe watching this exchange chuckled lightly and remarked, "I know what you mean, Dotty. When I first heard about this two years ago, I couldn't believe it either."

Dotty was floored at that statement and gulped asking him, "When did you find out about Mr. Wonderful, hmm?"

Amanda sighed and shot Joe a look stating, "Thank you, Joe! I'd almost forgotten that you knew!"

Dotty shook her head sadly responding, "So other than the boys and the rest of the relatives, I've been left out of the loop which tells me that you have no care or consideration for my feelings whatsoever. Well, it's a good thing I came up with this idea-"

Amanda commented tiredly, "Mother, remember when Joe was accused of killing the Prime Minister of Estoccia and he came home for a while? Well, Lee and I helped him then. He was cleared anyway since it turned out Mr. Prescott was involved. And believe me when I tell you once and for all that I kept things from you to protect you and the boys I mean it! I was sworn to secrecy. A lot of lives are at stake every day! And why all of a sudden do you want to attain custody? You already live with them and you're helping me raise them-"

Dotty shot back remarking, "I've basically been the caregiver the last few years anyway! You're hardly home any more as it is and believe me, the boys talk to me about it. It upsets them at times and although they do try to hide it from me, I know how they feel!"

She sighed finally and responded, "Well, that's it in a nutshell. Joe, I assume you will have to find someone else to handle this legally. I trust that you'll do what's right here. I have some money tucked away to be able to afford a lawyer. And not one of your friends either. Someone objective. Someone with fresh eyes-"

Joe looked peculiarly at Amanda who shrugged and stated, "She watches a lot of "Perry Mason" reruns."

Joe shook his head and sighed responding slowly, "I'll let you know soon Dotty, but are you sure you wanna go through with this?"

Amanda swallowed hard adding as she asked, "And what about the boys? They've been happy here in this house. Why uproot them?"

Dotty shook her head and commented, "Oh for heaven's sake! Of course they'd stay here! It's the only place they know!"

Looking at her watch she then responded, "I'm late for my bridge club meeting. You both decide what you want to do and let me know, hmm?

With that she grabbed her keys and purse and left, leaving Joe and Amanda stunned! What would they do now?!

TBC