Unforeseen Path

Chapter 16

The next morning, Lee woke slowly and looking around saw that it was a hospital room. He then saw Amanda in a cot sleeping across the way and thought, "Where the hell are we? Are we home or someplace else?"

Gingerly reaching toward the stand near his bed he got water and carefully poured some into a cup and sipped it. Swallowing, he relished in it as his throat was very dry.

Putting the cup down, he cleared his throat and called out to Amanda. "Amanda, wake up. " Not getting a response he tried again. "Amanda! "

Still nothing. He found it odd because she was the early riser always. Finally taking his plastic water cup he finished the water in it and then tossed it across the room so it would hit the wall and make some kind of noise.

It worked! Amanda bolted upright and jumping up, she went to Lee's side immediately! Taking his hand she shook her head and said, "Thank goodness you're awake! We've been so worried about you! Are you all right now? Let me get the doctor-."

She turned to leave, but Lee grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Wait a minute. Stop! What happened to me? "

Amanda said, "You don't remember? Oh, of course not. Well, Mr. Melrose called me yesterday morning saying that he was coming to get me-."

Lee was shocked! "Yesterday? I was getting back from Portugal. I got on the plane and then... whew. I guess I don't remember after that."

Taking Amanda's hand he said, "Go to the closet there. I should have a bag. Could you bring it to me please? "

Amanda said, "Oh Lee, I really don't think you should try to leave until you see the doctor. I know you don't like hospitals but-."

Lee groaned in frustration! "Amanda, will you please shut up and just do what I ask? Please? "

Amanda nodded and sighed turning away to head to the closet mumbling to herself and Lee said, "What's that you're saying? "

Amanda came back tiredly and put the bag in his lap hard and he yelped!

Lee said, "Ow! What the hell? "

Amanda shook her head and walked around the room and began to ramble. "That's what I wanna know, buster! I was up late the other night watching a movie with my mother and went to bed and two hours later Billy calls me and says I have to get up and dressed because he's picking me up to go somewhere and doesn't tell me where-big surprise! Then I get in the limo where I get a typical smart remark from our own Grace Kelly on my outfit! I have been in these clothes for two whole days topping the record I set in London when we were tracking down the Mongoose who you hideously thought was my high school friend, Conrad Barnhill and you made the oh-so-sweet remark to me that I'd only been in THAT outfit ONLY twelve hours! Now I'm going to say, what the hell?!"

Just then, the doctor and nurse came in and the doctor said," Mr. Stetson. I'm glad to see you're awake. Is everything all right in here? "

Amanda sighed and said to the nurse, "You can get this cot out of here. I won't be needing it..."

Opening the door she saw Billy and Francine and said to them, " The beast is awake and he's all yours! Do not phone me or come by my house! I will be getting something to eat, taking a shower and then going to bed! I don't want to see that man until he can be civil and can apologize to me later..."

Turning back to Lee who was stunned she said, "I really hope you'll be okay but I can't stand the sight of you right now! I have a life that I have to get back to! "

She left and the doctor cleared his throat saying to Billy, "All right. I need to examine Mr. Stetson. Could you wait outside for now please? The nurse will come get you when I'm done. "

Billy and Francine stepped out of the room and Francine said, "Do you want me to get her? "

Billy shook his head and said, " No. That would be like poking a mama bear with a stick. A very angry and hurt mama bear! I'll take her off the duty roster until things calm down, which at this rate could be another month-whew..."

Meanwhile, the cab Amanda took to get home dropped her off and she went into the house and Dotty said, "Oh, I was wondering if you'd call me to let me know when you'd be home? Anyway dear, I thought we might do some shopping today. The boys need some new pants and-. "

Amanda looked at her stonily. "Really, Mother? You thought without even looking at me that I'd want to just go SHOPPING today? Are you out of your mind?! No! Not today! I just spent a whole day and night at the hospital waiting for a friend-who may not be a friend any more- wake up from a head injury and be a total beast to me! No, Mother! I'm going to go upstairs and shower and get some sleep. I'll eat later. One of your friends can take you. I'm done! Excuse me!"

Dotty was floored as she watched her only daughter head up the stairs and slam her bedroom door! What in the world got into her all of a sudden?!

Going to the kitchen phone she dialed a number and when the party answered she said, " I need to speak to Amanda King's boss. It's important..."

She was then told that he was out for the day but that they would relay the message and asked her who she was. Dotty said, "I'm Dotty West. Amanda King's mother and if he knows what's good for him he'll call me back. Leave a message today though. I'll be out this afternoon."

Hanging up, she then called a friend of hers and planned a lunch date and hung up and went to get ready. She decided not to push Amanda into talking today. It didn't seem like a good idea. Maybe by dinnertime she'd feel better...

TBC