Unforeseen Path

Chapter 4

Lee and Amanda met with Emily's attorney Sam Henderson to go over the will in Emily's study. He said, "Since Mrs. Farnsworth had no other family to speak of, she decided to bequeath both of you this house and the belongings there-in..."

Lee and Amanda were stunned! Amanda said,"I already have a house and mortgage payments every month! I couldn't possibly afford the upkeep of this home, lovely as it is! Lee? What do you think? "

Lee shook his head and said, "I think it's quite generous of Emily to have thought of us, but I have to agree with Amanda on this one. I have an apartment in Georgetown already and I'm nowhere in the market to own my own home! I'm a bachelor and-."

Sam said putting up a hand! "Please wait, both of you! Now, I think you misunderstood what she meant. She has paid off the mortgage in full, but she thought maybe you could use it as a vacation home as she has been doing. She has one stipulation however. She asked that you keep Bridget on as caretaker and Mr. Williams as gardener. If you need time to think about it-."

Lee said, "I'm sorry. We will need a minute. Amanda?"

Amanda followed him to the patio and said, "Lee, I loved Emily but I can't afford to fly here for vacation every time the mood strikes me! It's expensive to fly. Well, not for you of course, but-."

Lee nodded, "I know, I know. But I may have a solution that Emily would've approved of. You go back to Sam. I have a phone call to make..."

Amanda joined Sam back in the study saying, "Lee will be back in a moment. I have to say, Mr. Henderson that I'm surprised that Emily wanted to leave me something of this size! Lee's right. It was I think too generous on Emily's part to do this. I don't go back as far with her as Lee did-."

Sam said, "Mrs. King, she felt as close to you as if you were a daughter or a niece. I promise you she was of sound mind and body when she changed her will recently to include you as well..."

Amanda nodded as Lee rejoined them. He said, "Sam, I understand that you're aware of what Emily's occupation was? "

Sam said, "Yes, but I can't disclose-."

Lee said, "It's all right. Amanda and I are in the same business-she helps out part time for the Agency back home. Now, is there any clause in there that would prevent us from transferring ownership to the Agency to be used as their home, per say? "

Amanda understood and said, "Lee, that's a wonderful idea! A safe house, you mean? "

Lee nodded at her. "Exactly! What about that, Sam? I spoke to our supervisor who was agreeable to that solution."

Sam said, "Well, I'd have to look this over carefully and get back to you. When do you go back to D.C.?"

Lee sighed. "We have to return tonight because believe it or not my uncle, Colonel Robert Clayton of the U.S. Air Force has also passed away and I have to oversee his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery day after tomorrow. "

Sam swallowed and said, "I see. I'm terribly sorry for your loss. "

Lee nodded and said, " I also thought about Emily's funeral." Looking at Amanda he said, "We'll hold an Agency service for her tomorrow. Billy's calling the MI5 people who want to attend as well as our own group."

Amanda swallowed hard and said, "Sounds like you've got things under control. Excuse me. I'm going up to pack..."

Nodding to Sam she left and Sam said to Lee, "Will she be all right? "

Lee sighed and nodded saying, "Yeah. It's just a lot of stuff to get hit with at once, you know? "

The two men got up and shook hands and Lee said, "Is there anything I need to sign before you go? "

Sam said, "No. I'll fax the paperwork to you and you and Mrs. King can sign then along with your supervisor's signature and that should be that. "

Lee showed Sam out and went to the stairs to go up and Bridget said, "I have sandwiches. I thought Mr. Henderson would be staying? "

Lee shook his head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but Mrs. King and I have to return to D.C. tonight. You and Mr. Williams will be staying on here to take care of the place. I'll contact you when the will is finalized. "

Bridget nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Stetson. Have a safe flight home, both of you."

Lee nodded and said, "Thank you. We'll be down to eat before we go. "

Lee went back up and found Amanda in Emily's room trying to straighten up and said softly, "Hey. You packed already?"

Amanda shrugged. "I never really got to unpack seeing as h-how she l-left just after I arrived."

Lee nodded as he came toward her and took her hand and squeezed it gently. "I'm so sorry you didn't have more time with her. She was one of the best..."

Amanda sighed. "Yeah, I know. I still can't believe we lost both of them. Did you talk to the Colonel since that dinner?"

Lee said, " Not really. I mean we just kept missing each other trying to set up another dinner night."

He chuckled suddenly and shook his head and Amanda said, "What is it? "

Lee sighed. "I never told you this, but he assumed we were boyfriend/girlfriend since that night and I never got to set him straight on that. He um, a-approved of you. He said, "That girl is a keeper, Skip! Don't blow it! "

Amanda said, "Gee, I rated above the ones you usually date! Imagine that!"

Lee pointed a finger at her and said, "All right. That's enough. Let's go eat and we can head to the airport. "

Amanda said. "I thought you told Sam-."

Lee sighed, "Yeah, but we got done sooner than I thought with him so I got us an earlier flight, okay? I have a lot to take care of with the Colonel's funeral."

Amanda said, "Lee, can I help with it at all?"

Lee said, "Just having you close by helps. Thanks. I'll be all right, though."

Later as they flew out of San Francisco and onto D.C. towards home, Amanda wondered just how well he was coping with it all. She would definitely be there for him just in case...

TBC