Passageway

Chapter 13

Mike realized he had to tread lightly where the talk of Joe and Lee was concerned knowing that Lee was basically new to this family and noticing Joe's not too subtle reaction to the man.

Mike asked, "Uh, would you say your relationship is at best cantankerous?"

Joe shrugged stating, "I wouldn't say that but I find it strange that Amanda contradicted herself by casting my job aside and more or less accepted what Lee did for a living."

Mike shook his head replying, "I don't follow."

Joe sighed and commented, "I know you're privy to certain information and you can't spill anything but I know what Amanda got herself into a while ago which surprised me because of her stance on keeping the kids safe. I don't know if the kids or Dotty know anything about their job today but I find it strange that she travels abroad so much with him in that job but wouldn't go with me when my opportunity came up. And more to the point, there's more danger with him then with me. See, I found out when I had trouble in Estoccia a while back how involved she was when she helped him get me out of that. Of course she couldn't tell me much but she assured me that her mother and the kids would be protected."

Mike nodded and responded, "So, what would she have to fear with your traveling?"

Joe sighed and commented, "All right. There's been unrest in certain countries and conditions aren't exactly five star, but I have connections and I don't have to carry a weapon. At least, not all the time like Lee would. And I can keep my boys safe but she doesn't see it that way."

The next talk was with Amanda. Mike asked, "Knowing what you know today, would you have changed anything concerning the kids?"

Amanda shrugged and remarked, "No. Things have been fine. Except for having to tell Mother stories for when I go out of town. Of course now, it's different."

Mike reacted answering, "Oh? How?"

Amanda sighed shaking her head and commented, " Gosh, you know what you know without my having to tell you anyway. You know because you're indirectly involved Agency-wise. The case that brought this whole problem about?"

Mike half smiled and nodded answering, "I get it. Go ahead with whatever you were going to say next though, please."

Amanda shrugged and responded, "Well it's just that half the time, I don't know whether I'm coming or going with the job. And then when there's a lull it feels like a normal everyday routine, you know?"

Mike queried, "Would you ever want to go back to the way your life was before working with Lee?"

Amanda pondered this for a moment and then shook her head stating, "No, I don't think so because I've learned so much and I feel that I've grown beyond that time of my life. Does that make any sense?"

Mike shrugged and answered, "Sure. You've evolved from the " housewife" persona in other words, right?"

Amanda nodded as she smiled remarking, "Exactly. See, you get it. It's not that Mother and Joe don't want me to advance in a career but they sometimes act as though they should set the stage. I'm busy but I do try to be home for the boys when I can. But now that they're older I don't really need to be here that much. Or rather, they'd prefer that I'm not here to hover over them. They know I love them and vice versa."

Mike then asked, "How does Lee feel about all this?"

Amanda stated, "Well, he's trying his best to stay neutral with this whole thing. He understands that Mother and Joe are concerned but he and I agree that we all just need to adjust. Yes, our career is dangerous but so far we've managed to keep everyone safe. That doesn't mean that I don't worry about the boys anyway. They're the reason I stuck with this job. To make this world a little better for them if I can."

Mike queried, "So, about your mother wanting custody?"

Amanda sighed and replied, "Again, I understand her concern but she's been with them all this time. And to change things this way is only confusing the boys more, I think."

Mike responded nodding, "Do they get along with Lee all right? Was it hard for them to have him around?"

Amanda shrugged, "Jamie, mostly. At least at first. He resented the time I was away so often after Lee and I started dating. But I told both boys the situation with work and traveling and they seemed to be okay with it. But the more Lee came around here at first, the more Jamie seemed to retreat. Mother noticed he stopped eating lunch and talked to me about it and then Jamie and I had a talk. He was under the impression that I couldn't love him any more since I had Lee."

Mike sighed and replied, "Poor kid."

Amanda nodded commenting, "Yeah. But I just had to tell him that I had enough love for him and his brother and his grandmother and that wasn't going to change."

Mike asked, "And Phillip?"

Amanda shook her head stating, "They're terrific together. From the get-go, I think. No, Phillip was only upset when I was seeing someone a year after the divorce. He naturally resented the relationship at first much like Jamie did with Lee. But the man and I broke up almost two years later. He kept pushing marriage on me and I just wasn't ready."

Mike nodded and responded, "What about Lee?"

Amanda shrugged and remarked, "Well, we had been working together for almost three years before we acknowledged our feelings. I think we were both a little afraid. I thought he wouldn't want the whole suburban package. I mean, he'd been alone so long that he seemed okay with it..."

Mike saw her face cloud over and he asked, "What is it?"

Amanda sighed and commented, "He did date a lot of different women and my other thought was that he just wouldn't be around that long. That he might get bored with me."

Mike shook his head responding, "Well apparently, he's more than okay with everything from what I see. You're very lucky to have found one another."

Amanda smiled and nodded stating, "Yes, we are."

Mike's next chat was with Lee. He queried, "How does family life suit you now? You getting along all right with the kids and your mother-in-law?"

Lee sat thinking nervously, I know I promised Amanda I'd give this guy a chance, but it's almost like being with Pfaff. I can't let him get the upper hand here. I'll only tell him what I need to in order to get this over with...

TBC