Passageway
Chapter 17
Amanda picked up the boys after school on Monday and brought them for the first week at Lee's. Lee met them in the parking lot helping them upstairs with their bags and as they unloaded in the living room Amanda put up a hand looking around and stated, "Hold on, Guys! Let's organize this a little better, all right?"
Phillip looked at Lee and shook his head responding, "C'mon, Lee! You said it was a guys hangout now, right?"
Lee was about to answer when Amanda sighed and replied to her oldest, "Hey! We're doing this on a trial basis and even if we weren't there are still rules on how to behave in someone's home no matter who it is, you got it?"
Phillip slowly nodded and plunked himself down on the couch muttering, "Man! Mom, you sure know how to take the fun outta stuff!"
Lee chuckled and stated, "She's not doing that at all, Chief. Besides, this is an apartment and I have neighbors on this floor and below me who may not appreciate the din you guys sometimes create."
Jamie looked at Lee puzzled and queried, "Huh?"
Phillip sighed and commented, "He meant we can't be noisy here like we can at home, Doofus-"
Amanda quickly admonished him remarking firmly, "That's enough, Phillip! Now I want you boys to promise me and Lee that you'll at least try to behave this week with him and each other, okay? Please?"
Phillip and Jamie slowly nodded and went to give Amanda a hug responding, "We promise, Mom."
Amanda kissed the tops of their heads and then went to get her purse and as she got to the door she stated, "Well if you need anything, you got the number so-"
The boys then said in unison, "Bye, Mom!"
Lee walked with her to the door grinning and remarked, "I'm gonna walk your mom out. Why don't you start your homework and I'll be right back, okay?"
They nodded and replied, "Sure, Lee."
He and Amanda went out the door but he came back immediately commenting, "I forgot. Granola snacks are in the kitchen cabinet and you know where the milk is. Why don't you do that first?"
Phillip and Jamie nodded and they headed for the kitchen as Lee walked out.
But as Lee and Amanda were in the elevator on the way down to the parking lot Amanda sighed querying, "Are you absolutely sure about this, Sweetheart? There are two boys here, you know-"
Lee groaned answering, "Honey, c'mon! They're not infants. Besides, I have a system mapped out-"
Amanda chortled suddenly as they exited the elevator and headed outside to her car and Lee looked at her as if she'd lost her mind and asked, "What's so funny?"
Amanda gulped as she laughed and responded shrugging, "Um nothing, except systems can sometimes fail because the inventor of the so-called system isn't really prepared for anything and everything to happen at once."
Lee shook his head and replied, "If you are trying to tell me all this because I'm not really their parent, I-"
Amanda then faced him and went into his arms and kissed him lightly and stated, "I love you very much and I admire your positive attitude and your determination to beat the so-called system that parent veterans such as Mother and myself have been trying to amend for years. That being said, I want you to call Mother or me if something happens that you can't-through no fault of your own-handle, okay?"
Lee chuckled as he held his wife and responded gently, "Well, thanks for the subtle vote of confidence you've just bestowed upon me, but I will be all right. You can go home now."
Amanda narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "Are you sure?"
With that Lee opened her car door and helping her in stated, "Yes, Dear! Besides, it's only the first night. Piece of cake. Bye, bye."
He shut the door and didn't move until she pulled out of the complex. He went back into the building shrugging as he thought, I don't know what that was about. I've already lived with them before. What is she worried about? We'll have a great time. They'll scuffle a bit and argue and I'll set 'em straight. Big deal...
Meanwhile Amanda drove out of Georgetown shaking her head stating aloud, "I tried to warn you..."
TBC