Chapter 5

She cocked her head toward the door, "I told you," she laughingly muttered to him crossing the threshold into the room clutching the towel so it wouldn't fall off, "Jennifer, you need to go get dressed, we're running a little behind today," she came across the room to the dresser Lee was standing in front of. She patted the little boy on the head and wrinkled her nose, "oh you need to be changed," Amanda said to the child, pulling out a drawer and grabbing a pair of panties and a bra out then she reached out and shut the bedroom door. She turned around to go to the closet when she saw that Lee was standing there frozen in place, "sweetheart, are you OK?" she asked with genuine concern, her eyes soft as she looked at him deeply.

"No Amanda," he said finally losing his cool, "I am not OK-"

Suddenly there was a knock on the bedroom door, "Yoo-hoo, Amanda?" a voice called through the door, "Do you want me to feed Jenny?" Amanda went back across the room and opened the door quickly. Careful to keep it semi closed but seemingly ignoring the fact that he wasn't dressed yet and she was still only in a towel. He turned away quickly and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Oh yes, please mother, and can you take Matty, too? He needs to be changed. The alarm didn't go off this morning and Lee can't be late today," she said as she gently scooted the boy out the door.

"Don't you worry, Grandma's here," the woman singsonged as her voice disappeared with the baby.

Amanda shut the door and walked over to stand in front of him, "Lee," she said gently, "we talked about this. You were adamant that this is what you wanted to do…if you're having second thoughts now…well, it's OK sweetheart, we'll figure it out," she reached out and grabbed his hand, caressing it softly, "I love you and everything will be alright," she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his middle.

He was very conscious of the fact that she was still in a towel and he was only in his boxers, "uh," he huffed out and cleared his throat.

She pulled back and looked closer at him, "Lee, you're starting to scare me," she said softly, "you've been at the agency for a long time, if you're having second thoughts about this new position-"

"New position?" he parroted, willing himself to stay still as she leaned in closer.

"Yes sweetheart, you're new job at the State Department," she kissed his cheek, "I know you're probably nervous but if you truly think it was a mistake to take it, I'm sure you could talk to Billy…he didn't really want you to leave but, I….I am really looking forward to my new job," she looked up at him nervously, "I have loved being your partner these last ten years, it's been an incredible adventure we've been on together…maybe we need to talk more about this," she tightened her arms around him, "I know that we decided that it was best for the family but if it's not what's best for you then-"

"Amanda!" they both jumped when they heard her mother call, "Jamie is going to need to leave for school in about five minutes if you want to see him before he goes."

"Oh," Amanda jumped throwing off the towel and he watched frozen as she quickly put on her undergarments. He tried not to look, he really did. She then grabbed a pair of gray slacks and a soft pink sweater out of a closet with a sliding door, "I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm just going to see Jamie off and make sure Jennifer and Matthew aren't giving my mother any trouble," she quickly moved in front of him and kissed him firmly on the lips, "whatever you decide sweetheart, I will support you one hundred percent. But, for right now you need to get in the shower and dressed, you promised Billy you'd be on time today," she hurried out the door.

In his few moments alone he'd had since he woke up, the silence was almost deafening.

"Oh my god," he said looking around taking several deep breaths-he tried not to hyperventilate, "what the holy hell?" What was this? Some sort of parallel universe? Things like this don't happen. Jennifer and Matthew, those were his parents' names. Were they his kids? This was crazy. Was he dreaming? He had to wake up. He had to find a way back to….before. He sat heavily on the bed for a moment before deciding he'd better get dressed before Amanda came back.

He opened and closed several drawers until he found one containing boxers and socks, he grabbed a pair and frowned at the quality. He shook his head and jumped into the quickest shower he'd ever taken, stepping out he jumped as he stepped on a toy that squeaked, "For the love of…" he mumbled and dried off quickly and hurried back into the other room.

He opened the other side of the closet and slid the open the other way. Taking note of the suit coats hanging there, he groaned. Some of them were plaid. Plaid. While they weren't the cheapest quality there was definitely no Armani or a Christian Dior to be seen. He shook his head and grabbed the best one he could see at the moment and threw on the pants and shirt and turned to grab a tie and hesitated a second time. No silk-with a sigh he grabbed one and slung it around his neck, picking up the jacket he made his way quickly to the door. He had to find his way out of here. He threw it open and stopped just short of plowing into the little girl. He drew in a quick breath.

"Hi daddy," the little girl, Jenny, Amanda had called her, said with a grin.

"Uh, yeah hi," he stumbled over his words, trying to skirt around her.

"I'm going to the museum today," she announced proudly.

"Uh, OK good," he said taking another step around her.

"Are you sick?" Jenny asked in concern. Her little forehead was crinkled as she studied him.

He looked at her in alarm, "What?" he asked in confusion, "No uh, I'm just running late. I-I uh, have to go to work." The girl pinched her brows and cocked her head at him, the scrutiny made him uncomfortable. She took two steps closer to him.

"OK," she said, still subdued, "I love you big," the little girl said and raised her arms, looking at him questioningly. It was almost like a test.

Lee lent down and awkwardly put his arms around the girl and mumble, "yeah- yeah love you too," he said before straightening up. He gave the girl and awkward pat on the head and booked it down the stairs. He missed the narrowed eye glare that the little girl gave him. At the bottom of the stairs he found Amanda was just closing the front door.

"Hey sweetheart, your coffee is ready," she ran her hand over his abdomen as she passed him, "I just have to put on some makeup real quick and I'll be ready," she said as she dashed upstairs.

"Amanda wait-"

"Oh dear," Amanda's mother said coming up behind him, startled he turned to face her, "'tsk', you know Amanda's father used to have me tie his tie every morning," she grabbed the tie hanging around his neck and started doing it up for him. As he had done all morning so far, he froze, "It was just a special moment we could say good morning before I sent him on his way. I miss him and I miss doing that for him," she finished tying it, placed her hands on his shoulders and looked him sweetly. He swallowed hard, "and I'm so glad I can do it for you sometimes…I don't think I've told you lately how glad we are you are here. You've made my little girl and my grandsons so happy...and you've given me the gift of more grandchildren. You are a very special man," she kissed him on the cheek and he watched as she heading back through to the other room. He stared in the direction she went. His stomach turned over at her gesture.