Chapter 14: Wow! Lee is Up First!

Lee awakened on the couch at Amanda's house around 6 AM. Truth of the matter was, he hadn't slept that much to begin with; and not because of the couch's size itself, but more because of the fact that he couldn't keep his mind off Amanda and off her family and what they might think about finding him there that morning. He didn't want them to think anything unsavory was going on between him and Amanda.

Well, not unsavory, but he wanted to make sure they knew he was on the up and up about his relationship with Amanda. Lee sat up and decided that he would act as though he was already a part of the family. He went upstairs and washed his face with the cloth Amanda had left out for him the night before; then he peeked in through all the bedrooms which were lightly cracked; went back downstairs into the kitchen and put on a fresh pot of coffee. He then brought in the morning paper, opened the refrigerator and looked to see what he could use to make some breakfast.

By 7 o'clock, when Amanda came downstairs, Lee had cooked bacon and was pulling it out of the oven, had cut up some strawberries, added blueberries and raspberries, scrambled eggs and bread for toast.

"Good morning, Lee. I was just coming down to fix you some coffee and cook the boys some breakfast, but I see you've already done that." Amanda was simply amazed; this was more than she usually did during school days. She was just going to put out some cereal, milk and fresh fruit. She was amazed at what Lee had done.

Lee poured Amanda a cup of coffee, handed it to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm impressed!"

"Well, you should be; now sit down and start eating," Lee commanded.

"Lee, I can finish….."

"Amanda, you relax; let someone else take care of you for a change."

"Okay," Amanda smiled to herself.

Shortly, the boys came down and greeted Lee and kissed Amanda on the cheek with Dotty following suit.

"Man, Lee, this is a nice change for breakfast during the week," Philip belted.

"Yeah, Mom and Grandma usually give us cereal or toast," Jaimie chimed in.

"Fellows!" Amanda reprimanded. "That's not true."

"Well, guys," Lee said, "I just thought I'd do something special since this wasn't planned. I'm sure whatever your grandmother and mother prepare during the week is just fine."

"Yeah!" Philip said as he smacked on a piece of toast and bit into his egg.

"Yeah, yummy!" Jaimie said between bites.

"Boys!" Dotty said, as she walked into the room. "Lee, how did you sleep? I'm glad you were okay and that you'll be able to stay here for a few days."

"I slept just fine. I told Amanda I can stay at my club for the weekend. I will only put you out for one night."

"Lee, don't be ridiculous! It is no bother," Amanda said, standing to put away her plate in the dishwasher.

"No, Lee, it won't be any bother whatsoever. The boys and I will be leaving this evening anyway. We'll be away until Sunday afternoon. They will be going to a Junior Trailblazers retreat and I will be in Vermont visiting my sister."

"Oh, Amanda didn't tell me about that."

"Oh, it must've slipped my mind…" Amanda replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"So, you and Amanda will have all the alone time you want or need." She stopped to put some more food in her mouth, and then asked. "What time do you have to be in to work?"

"We're going in a little late mother, around 9 or 9:30, well that was the plan, but….." Amanda said quickly, not daring to look at Lee. "But seems to me we will be early."

"Yeah, we can go in at our usual time. We can drop the boys off, isn't that what you usually do, Amanda?"

"Well yes, most of the time."

"So, boys, get moving and finish up." Lee said as he turned to Philip and Jaimie.

"Yes, Lee!" The boys responded in unison.

Amanda and Dotty exchanged looks as they sipped their coffee.

/

"Why didn't you tell me that your Mother and the boys would be away for the weekend?" Lee questioned Amanda softly as soon as they were alone after the others went upstairs to finish getting ready. "I'm most definitely not staying here this weekend now."

"What's the matter, you can't take the heat Stetson? It's not like we haven't already, done you know what." Amanda said in hushed tones.

"No, it isn't as if we haven't done you 'know' what," Lee repeated with a grin, "but I don't want your boys thinking that we have or your mother for that matter. I don't want them thinking my intentions aren't honorable."

"Are your intentions honorable?" Amanda asked.

Lee opened his mouth to give a retort but stopped dead in his tracks when Amanda's serious face turned into a smirk.

"Well, you know my intentions; it's yours that I'm still wondering about."

"I guess, you'll just have to wait and see what my intentions are," Amanda retorted back saucily as she gave Lee a quick kiss upon the lips.

"Lee! Amanda!" Dotty's voice from the top of the stairs caused them to break a part.

After Dotty and the boys came back downstairs, Lee and Amanda left; dropped off the boys and headed towards IFF.

/