She Can And She Did

Chapter 7

The Agency was at it's usual din of activity a few weeks after Lee and Amanda's argument. In fact, she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him since then, but then again, she was kept busy with transcribing tapes, and going out on business errands with Francine. They had more or less made up since their difference of opinion, so they kept things cordial in order to be able to work together.

Lee, meanwhile, had told Billy that he needed personal time to take care of some things, so Billy had granted him a few days here and there, and Billy had just told Amanda to keep on working with Francine for now, while continuing her training classes.

Lee, since his argument with Amanda, had been wracking his brain, trying to figure out a way to get back into his partner's good graces. But he knew she was smart enough not to fall for his usual charms, that had usually worked in the past with other previous relationships.

No, he thought to himself the day after their argument...No, Amanda was different than any other woman he'd known before, including Francine, and it was time, he thought to himself, to literally step up, and fix this before he lost the best thing that he had in his life.

At home one night, he'd been in a nostalgic mood, and poring through the photos of his parents, had wondered how things might have turned out for him had they not been killed.

Would they have approved of Amanda, he wondered? He then remembered the night he and Amanda had dinner with the Colonel, and his uncle's words as he said after meeting Amanda, "Your taste is improving, Skip."

Lee shook his head at the nickname he was given as a child after moving in with the Colonel..."Skip". Or the other one, which was just as bad..."Diaper Duty"!

But as Lee had pointed out to Amanda, the Colonel always did his duty, meaning the man was more or less stuck with him after Lee's folks died.

Then looking at the framed photo on his nightstand, he asked them with a gesture, "What should I do, Mom ? Dad? How do I fix this? She means more to me than I ever thought possible, so if you could just give me a nudge, or a sign of some sort, then I could-"

Then a thought occurred to him, and bewilderedly, he shook his head, saying, "N-No! How could I even go there?"

He turned in late, still undecided on his next move...

-SMK-

But the next morning, he bit the bullet as it were, and waited until he knew Amanda had gone to work, and her kids went off to school.

Dialing the familiar number, he heard the woman's voice when she picked up, answering, "Hello?"

Lee, clearing his throat, stated, "Mrs. West? This is Lee Stetson calling. I work with Amanda at IFF, and I wondered if I might be able to talk over something with you...Um, when it's convenient, that is?"

Dotty thought to herself, Hmm...Wonder what this might be about? Amanda never mentioned this man from her work before...

So lost in her thoughts, Dotty then heard Lee query, "Hello? Mrs. West? Are you there?"

Dotty then responded quickly, "Oh! Yes, I'm here! Goodness! I'm so sorry, Mr. Stetson-"

Lee interjected with, "Please call me Lee, alright? So, when would be a good time for you? I realize it's out of the blue, but it's kind of important."

Dotty thought to herself, The last time something like this came up, Joe wanted to speak to her about his and Amanda's future, since Amanda's father had already passed.

Then shaking her head, she thought, No! I think Amanda would tell me if it were anything that serious...She hasn't even mentioned dating anyone...Unless she has been seeing Lee Stetson already?

Quickly speaking once more with Lee, Dotty asked, "Well, how about lunch today? I was going to my bridge club, but they had to cancel. So, about 1:00 here at the house?"

Lee swallowed, thinking, Lunch...At Amanda's...With her mother? What am I thinking about?

Then he heard Dotty saying his name to get his attention, and Lee remarked, "I'm-I'm here, Mrs. West! I apologize...Yeah, 1:00 is fine. Should I bring anything?"

Dotty commented, "No, thank you, Lee. I have everything here...So I will see you at 1:00. Goodbye."

Lee answered, "Goodbye, and thank you."

Hanging up, he let out a sigh of relief thinking, Okay, passed that hurdle...Now what?

TBC