Chapter 16

Their picnic was picked up when Lee and Jenny returned and the others had migrated to the family room.

"We decided we wanted to watch movies tonight but now we can't decide on what," Amanda told him when he came into the kitchen, "the boys want to watch 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'," she said in an annoyed tone.

Lee nodded, "Oh yeah-"

"Oh nooo," she interrupted, "Jenny can't watch that," she reprimanded him, "it's a little violent and those guys' faces melt off," she was busy popping corn on the stove.

"That's the best part," he said, he shook his head when she turned her annoyed eye to him, "I know, I know," he said. He supposed Jenny couldn't watch something like that, "ok," he walked over to the cabinet that had some VHS cassettes and started looking through them. He hesitated when he noticed a bunch of home movies.

"Did you find something?" Phillip pipped up behind him.

Lee finally spied something that would work, "how about this?" he asked Phillip when he pulled it out.

Phillip looked it over, "yeah we haven't watched this once since we were little," he grabbed it and tossed it to Jamie who was sitting in front of the television and VCR.

"Oh yeah," he said agreeing, "Mom, 'Escape from Witch Mountain'?" He yelled to run it by her even though he was already putting the tape in.

Amanda came into the room with two large bowls of popcorn and drinks on a tray, "Good choice, we haven't seen that one in years," she said happily. Again Lee found himself watching as this family gathered themselves around the television to enjoy a movie together.

"Over here daddy," Jenny called, "sit by me," she smiled warmly at him and he felt his heart melt. He couldn't believe he didn't want the evening to end.

Soon enough, Jenny and Matthew were snuggled into their bedroom. Phillip and Jamie had gone up to the room they shared when Phillip was home. Dotty had left for the evening and he scooted Amanda upstairs after she expressed the desire to take a long bath. Lee found himself picking up the family room.

"Hey Lee," he heard Jamie say, "Can I talk to you?" he asked shyly. He hadn't realized the teen had come back downstairs.

"Uh, yeah sure, chief," Lee said apprehensively. He hoped he could keep up with this conversation. He'd done pretty good so far, "I thought you went to bed. What's up?" Lee sat down on the couch.

Jamie pinched his brows and chuckled softly. His hands stuffed in his pockets, he shifted on his feet.

"What?" Lee asked at Jamie's laugh.

"Nothing….usually I'm sport and Phillip is chief," Jamie told him.

Lee forced a chuckle, "just mixing it up," he said absently patting the seat next to him on the couch.

"Yeah," Jamie said looking troubled but he sat down.

"What's going on?" Lee asked him in concern.

Jamie sighed, "well, I...uhm...so," Jamie shifted uncomfortably, "how...well I was wondering ….how do you know when you're in love?" he said quickly, his cheeks turning red.

Lee looked away and rubbed the back of his next, "Uhm," he stumbled.

"Well it's just that...you know I see how happy mom's been since you've met….and I see how you and mom look at each other and I just….how do you know, you know? How did you know?" Jamie asked.

"How did I know?" Lee mumbled. He felt his stomach drop, he was struck again with the urge to try not to hurt Jamie. He was a good kid, both of Amanda's son were such good kids. He couldn't sit here and tell this kid he didn't love his mother. This Lee Stetson didn't, wait...did he? But the Lee Stetson that Jamie knew definitely did.

"I'm not sure I know how to answer your question Jamie," Lee said gently, "it sounds like a cop out but, honestly you just…know. There is...no doubt in your mind. You know you can't live your life never seeing this person again, they become like an extension of yourself. You don't know how to go on if they aren't in your life and your world revolves around them. You want to take care of them...protect them from...everything. Hurt, heartbreak, pain."

"Is that how you feel about mom?" Jamie asked tentatively. Lee hoped the honesty in his eyes was enough. Lee looked closely at Jamie and nodded slowly. He'd come to feel very protective of all of them in the last few days.

Jamie nodded back, "yeah...I was watching the video of your wedding the other day and you both looked so happy, I don't think I've ever seen mom that happy," he laughed, "well until Jenny was born that is…well then Matty," he said with a far off look in his eye. Lee looked at him confused, Billy said they'd eloped. He shook off the thought to quickly reassure the teen.

"And when you and Phillip were born," Lee emphasized, he didn't want Jamie to think Amanda love the younger kids more. She was a devoted mother to all of her children. Her heart was big enough for them all.

Jamie nodded again, "yeah," he said absently, "but it was different," Lee looked at him sharply, "oh don't get me wrong. She loves us, I know she does. More than anything and she loved our dad when they were married but you? You're the love of her life," he paused for a moment, "and I've very glad she found you. Glad you found each other and you're a part of our family now. 'Cause I believe she's yours too. Isn't she?"

Lee nodded absently, "yeah," he told him honestly. He sat back in his chair and regarded the young man, "I hope you find the answers you're looking for," Lee told him.

"Yeah, thanks," he heard Jamie say before he got up and bounded up the stairs. Lee was quickly lost in thought when he suddenly remembered, Jamie said he was watching their wedding video. Lee hurried over to the cabinet where he'd seen all the home movies earlier and quickly flipped through the video cassettes on a shelf behind the television until he found the one he was looking for.