Chapter 7

Amanda looked at Lee then Harry again. "Well, I guess that's another mystery to solve. Harry, is there anything else you can tell us about Lauren, where she works, friends maybe?"

Harry put the file and pictures back in the envelope. Tossing it back on the coffee table, he shook his head. "Not much I'm afraid. She has an associates degree in Accounting and I know she was working in a small firm in Virginia Beach. I don't know which one. Peggy never mentioned the name of it. Friends… no, I don't know. The last few years, even contact with Peggy was sporadic. Her husband, Lauren's stepfather, died about 3 years ago. He never knew who I was either. He adopted Lauren when she was 5, shortly after he and Peggy got married. My name was never on Lauren's birth certificate so there was never a legal issue."

Lee looked at Harry, hearing the sadness in his voice. "Harry, I know this is hard but what else can you tell us, an address maybe?"

Harry shook his head. "I can give you Peggy's address. That's the last one I have for Lauren. I don't know if she's still there, sold the house, I don't know. Lee, I know it's not a lot to go on but I need to find her. I just need to know she ok. I didn't get to be there for her when she took her first steps or spoke or first words but it doesn't mean I didn't love her. I took care of her the safest way I knew how back then. What I wouldn't give to change that now. Not being able to talk to her, hear her voice…. The fear something has happened to her is killing me," Harry put his head into his hands.

"Harry, we'll find her. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't talk to my boys or if they were missing," Amanda said sympathetically as she rubbed his back to comfort him.

He lifted his head and looked at Amanda. "Thank you. I don't want you to think I didn't take care of her either. I paid for everything for her, discretely of course. Even after Steve adopted her, I still made sure she had everything she needed. He never knew. I had an account set up for her the day she was born, in Peggy's name. We called it her retirement account. That way it never raised any red flags. Cash deposits were made so they could never be traced back to me."

Lee nodded, "That's good information, Harry. Does that account still exist?"

"Yes, I still make a monthly deposit for her. I don't know if the account has been turned over to Lauren now that Peggy's gone. But it's still open. It hasn't been touched in over 3 years, but I still make that deposit," Harry explained.

"How much do you deposit?" Amanda asked.

Harry smiled, "One thousand dollars a month, a little more during holidays and an extra thousand on her birthday. The last balance showed there is over $50,000 still in the account."

Amanda shook her head in amazement. "Harry, that's very generous of you. Joe was only required to pay me $125 a week for both boys."

Lee looked at Amanda, shaking his head. They had never really discussed her child support agreement and he didn't know how much Joe paid her each week but hearing this, he understood why she was so good at her budget. She had to be, the amount he was paying her was barely enough to cover the grocery bill.

Harry stood up, looking at the two of them. "Amanda, Lee, I better be going. I appreciate you both, doing this for me. If you find her, when you find her, will you let me know. I'm not going anywhere for a while, Christina is enjoying this weather and her gardening."

Amanda stood and gave Harry a hug, "We will, as soon as we find her."

"I'll walk you down, Harry," Lee said as he walked Harry to the door.

Amanda looked at Lee, "Do you want me to heat up some of that leftover lasagna?"

"Yeah, I just realized we didn't eat yet. I shouldn't be gone long," he replied.

Harry smiled at the two of them. He could see how much Lee had changed and hoped he and Amanda could find the happiness they both deserved. Amanda closed the door behind them and walked into the kitchen to heat up dinner for the two of them.

Harry and Lee walked quietly down the back stairs. As they stood at the door, Harry turned to Lee, "Scarecrow, you and Amanda… you really care for her, don't you?"

Lee just smiled, knowing he couldn't lie to Harry, "Yeah, Harry, yeah. I do."

"Well then, take a piece of advice from an old man. Don't let anyone, and I mean anyone, get between you. Not anyone at the Agency, her family, your family… no one. Not even me," Harry slapped Lee on the shoulder. "If you care for her, like I think you do… keep her."

Lee shook his head, "It's just not that easy, Harry. She's got her boys… her mother... Then there's the Agency…. It's just not that simple."

Harry was adamant, "Lee, the Agency… well I won't give you my opinion on that, but her family…. If they are anything at all like her, they will welcome you with open arms. Yeah, its not going to be easy at first, but they'll see what she sees in you. Just trust me."

"I do, Harry, I trust you with my life," Lee smiled at him. "Now, go, before Amanda starts to worry about me. I'll call you when we get to Virginia Beach tomorrow and let you know where we're staying."

Harry started to walk toward the back alley but turned around one last time. "Remember what I said, hang onto to her with everything you've got because you never know when you're going to find that again."

"I will, Harry, believe me." Lee watched his old mentor sneak back through the shadows until he couldn't see him any more. Closing the door, he practically ran back up to the apartment. Walking inside, he called, "Amanda?"

"I'm here, food's almost ready. Harry okay?" she asked as she walked to the table carrying their plates.

Lee smiled at her, thinking about what Harry had just said to him. "I think so. I think he'll be better once we find her though."

They sat at the table and began to eat in silence. When they were almost finished, Amanda looked at Lee sadly, commenting, "I don't know how he did it all those years. I could never…" She stopped, thinking how difficult it was to leave her boys for a few days at a time, never mind most of their lives.

Seeing the sadness on her face, Lee said, "Amanda, I was thinking. We are going to be alone all weekend. No one we know will be within a 200 mile radius. I'd like us to wear our rings, you know, be Mr. and Mrs. Stetson all weekend."

Smiling, Amanda nodded, "I would love to be Mrs. Stetson this weekend."

Without a reply, Lee got up from the table and quickly went to the bedroom where their rings were hidden in the top drawer of his bureau. Retrieving the box, he brought them out to the table, presenting it to Amanda. Smiling, she lifted his ring from the box and slid it on his finger, squeezing his hand once it was in its proper place.

Lee took both her rings and slid them on her finger, bringing her hand to his lips. He kissed her fingers gently before pulling her close. "I love you, Mrs. Stetson. And I know I don't say that nearly enough," Lee said.

"And I love you, Mr. Stetson. We don't get to be this nearly enough," Amanda said as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. "Now if we can get these dishes cleaned up, we can get to bed. We have an early day ahead of us tomorrow."

Lee looked at her, smiling his dimpled smile. "Is that the only reason you want to get to bed early?" he teased.

Amanda slid her hands down his back to his backside. Pulling his hips close, she replied, "Nope."

Lee shook his head, "So you have other plans I take it?"

"Table cleared, dishes washed, a shower for the two of us and then I'll let you use your imagination," she replied between light kisses.

Lee growled as he pulled her even tighter to his body. "Forget about the dishes," he said as he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.