Passageway

Chapter 20

Amanda was shown into Bridget Stevens office the following Monday for her appointment and was taken aback by Lee being there.

She asked him, "Um, I'm confused here. Did we have a joint session today that I forgot about?"

Lee cleared his throat and shaking his head stated, "No, but-"

Bridget then remarked, "It's all right if Lee sits in on this one, Amanda. When he explained why he wanted to come today, I felt that you should both be here. After all, it does concern the two of you."

Amanda shrugged and slowly sat down next to Lee on the couch while Bridget sat across from them in her chair.

Bridget responded, "Lee, why don't you start off by telling us what brought you here this morning."

Lee sighed and replied, "Okay. I mentioned to Bridget about the boys and the deal they wanted to make as far as where they wanted to stay temporarily due to your mother's concerns and the arguments that later ensued."

Amanda nodded and added, "Yes, which is why Mike was there."

Bridget asked confusedly, "Mike?"

Amanda responded, "Yes, Mike Thompson. He's a mediator for the U. S. and helps negotiate for other countries. He's helped with the IFF location scouting when we travel abroad sometimes."

Lee nods replying, "Yeah so, he talked with all of us including Amanda's ex-husband Joe. We found out at the end of the night that the boys wanted to stay with me because of the arguing between Amanda, Joe, and Dotty."

Bridget queried, "Ah, yes. Amanda mentioned the custody issue. Has that been resolved?"

Amanda remarked, "Yes. Mother told me the other night she's reconsidered her feelings about that. But now I'm wondering why you're here, Lee."

Lee cleared his throat and answered slowly, "Well, Dotty called me about your talk the other night and she felt that we should get everything out in the open-"

Amanda put her head down and shook it stating, "I know she means well but sometimes she should just stay out of things-"

Bridget commented, "Amanda, putting things away in your mind isn't going to help the situation-"

Amanda remarked, "I know that, Bridget. But Lee isn't the best at opening up and I wanted to wait until he felt ready about discussing it."

Lee took Amanda's hand and squeezing it gently stated, "Hey. I told you I'm here for the long haul. Whatever happens, we deal with it together, huh? Even if that means I have to talk to quacks-"

Bridget raised an eyebrow to him and Lee sheepishly remarked, "Uh, sorry. Just a figure of speech. You're a terrific therapist who's done wonders for Amanda but before I met her, that's how I felt about therapy in general. No offense."

Bridget shrugged and responded evenly, "It's all right. Not everyone is able to share their feelings. And some don't feel that therapy is for them-"

Lee chuckled lightly and shook his head commenting, "I forgot. Rick's part of the society. It's okay. I don't mind if he said something to that effect concerning my sessions."

Amanda remarked questioningly, "Rick?"

Lee stated, "Rick Matthews? My head shrink."

Amanda smirked and shook her head smiling as she answered, "Oh."

Bridget questioned, "All right. Lee, what did Dotty say specifically to you about the talk she and Amanda had? "

Lee sighed and replied, "Uh well, she was concerned that Amanda seemed to be shouldering the blame for what happened during the case-"

He then looked at Amanda wondering if he was doing the right thing. But Amanda shrugged and stated, "We have to mention our job in order to explain how the problems came about."

Bridget noticed their joint hesitation and responded, "Lee, Amanda. Whatever you say stays in this office. Unless of course you've committed crimes. Only then am I obligated to reveal the sessions, all right?"

Lee nodded and then told her what he could of his and Amanda's career commenting, "The case was difficult to say the least. We began having problems when she lost her trust in me due to the rape and I couldn't help her because I was being held in a separate area but I heard everything which destroyed me because I couldn't get to her that one time! However, I did ask her to stay at the hotel while I went to check the guy's hideout earlier that evening-"

Amanda retorted, "You said he was dangerous! That alone told me you needed backup!"

Lee cut her off answering, "I assumed you knew to call our guys and have them come! I didn't want you near that psycho! I told you didn't I, that the guy was unhinged?"

Amanda swallowed hard responding, "I made it through the Birol fiasco-"

Lee nodded and answered shakily, "Y-Yeah. You were lucky then but after that experience, don't you think you should have-"

Amanda sighed and commented,"When are you ever going to learn to trust me like I have you all these years?"

Lee argued, "I do trust you! It's just-"

Amanda angrily stated, "Then let me do my damn job! Okay, so I don't like to shoot but I'm learning. Besides, talking your way out of a bad situation sometimes can be a good thing. It throws the suspect off if he or she thinks you're cooperating, right?"

Lee shook his head remarking, "The day of your shooting, I told you to st-stay in the car. Wh-what the hell was I thinking?"

Amanda gulped and covered his hand with her own and commented, "Sweetheart, you had no way of knowing that was going to happen. I don't blame you at all for that-"

Lee took a deep breath and let it out slowly answering, "Can you imagine if you hadn't made it? I mean, you nearly died twice during the operation. Your family didn't know me yet. I didn't know what I was going to tell them if you had died."

Amanda replied quietly, "How about when you got stabbed? Other than my father, I didn't know anyone close enough to me who got really sick. I barely knew your uncle then. It really scared me, you know?"

Bridget responded finally, "Okay. So other than the trust issue, you both seem to be making a concerted effort here to repair your marriage. Working out the little details first usually helps. Have you made lists for each other?"

Lee and Amanda looked at one another and laughed!

Bridget looked confusedly at them and asked, "What's so funny?'

Amanda cleared her throat and remarked as she gestured to Lee, "Ask Mr. "Six pages" over here."

Lee groaned and shrugged stating to Bridget, "It was suggested to me to do a list when we had some difficulty adjusting as newlyweds. It was only a rough draft at that point and I didn't expect her to read it. But she did and it was a while before we got to talking again. Only after I wrote a whole new list telling what I loved about her."

Bridget smiled and nodded answering, "Ah, the old "Get out of the doghouse" syndrome-"

Lee was perplexed and queried, "I'm sorry. What?"

Bridget stated, "Oh, yeah. People have done it for a long time. I had a boyfriend in college and it was going well. We toyed with the idea of living together. So he spent a weekend at my place to try it out. Big mistake! He assumed that I would take care of his laundry and pick up after him and also cook while doing some pretty heavy courses trying to become a therapist."

Lee chuckled querying, "What happened if I may ask?"

Bridget replied, "Oh, I just told him he'd better start learning the things his mother did for him because I was going to be too busy trying to start my career once I got out of college."

Amanda smirked and asked, "And his response was?"

Bridget sighed commenting, "He tried one of those lists. It went something like... I'll do this if you do that-kind of lists. Long story short, he left that Sunday and I never saw him again."

Amanda smiled as she looked at Lee and responded, "Well, Lee cooks but he doesn't pick up very well-"

Lee protested gently, "Hey. I've gotten a lot better since you first knew me, right?"

Amanda nodded patting his hand and answered, "Of course. With my influence-"

Lee sighed stating, "All right, all right. I just don't like to do the "spring cleaning" jazz that you and your mother do, okay? I had enough with the room inspections my uncle did every week when I lived with him."

Amanda smiled remarking, "It's okay, Sweetie. We'll build up slowly."

Lee shook his head and queried tiredly to Bridget, "I think we're done here, don't you?"

Bridget smiled and stated, "Yes, I think we are. Amanda, I feel now that you may not need any more sessions. What do you think?"

Amanda nervously responded, "Are you sure? I mean, what if I " hit a wall" as they say?"

Bridget smiled answering, "Well, you have my card. Just call me if the need arises. But remember, you have the support of your family and friends also to get you through anything you feel unsure about, okay?"

Amanda nodded as she and Lee got up from the couch and stated, "All right. Gee, I don't really know how to thank you for everything you've done."

Bridget put up a hand responding, "It's nothing, really. I merely helped you gain the strength you needed to put yourself back together again. Take care now."

As Amanda and Lee went out to the parking lot to their cars they felt as if the weight of the last few months had been lifted from their shoulders at last!

Lee asked, "The boys and I were gonna get Chinese takeout for tonight. You and Dotty wanna come over?"

Amanda smiled and nodded answering, "Yeah, I think we'd like that. I'll call her when we get back to the office."

Lee smiled remarking, "Let's go..."

TBC