Unforeseen Path

Chapter 20

That night late in Arlington after her family had turned in, Amanda went out to the gazebo with her portable radio to listen to some of her oldies music. She did it on occasion when not being able to sleep. She had a lot to think about concerning a certain man she worked with and a talk she had earlier that day with their boss.

She had been ready to throw in the towel about Lee, but Billy managed to talk her down! He explained that he was just as upset as she was about the man's behavior and told him so! He said, "Dear, I have had tiffs with my wife but I still know not to speak that way to her. I know that you and Lee are in a totally different situation, but the rules of courtesy and respect towards one another still apply here. "

Amanda had sat in Billy's office looking drained from being at the hospital all day and night and from letting things escalate unecessarily at home worrying her mother. She said, "I know I tend to ramble when I get nervous, but I was worried about him thinking that he wanted to leave the hospital when he wasn't in any shape to do so! We all know he hates hospitals, but why can't he allow his friends to give a damn about him?! If it were up to me the first day I laid eyes on him at the train station, I would've ignored him! "

Billy said, "But you decided to help after all. Why? "

Amanda shrugged and said embarassingly, "I-I thought it would only take five minutes. Anyway, there were 25 men on that train with red hats! How was I to know that the ball cap guy was the one to give that package to?! "

Billy joined her on the couch and patted her hand. "And here you are almost three years later. You've done an amazing job with us, Amanda. Even if you aren't told on a regular basis. "

Sighing he said, "I don't normally play favorites in my unit but you and Lee are the best team I have at this point. "

Amanda nodded. "Thank you, sir. What about Francine? "

Billy rolled his eyes and chuckled softly saying, "Francine Desmond is a top-notch agent, but she's in a class all of her own..."

Amanda giggled along with him. " I see what you mean, sir. "

Billy said finally, "So, can I count on you to stay with us despite the "neandrethal" partner you have? "

Amanda swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah, but can you give me a few days to sort some stuff out? I don't know where the two of us stand right now since I told him-."

Billy nodded. "I know what you said to him and between us, I was damn proud of you at that moment. You have every right to stand up for yourself where he's concerned. "

They both got up from the couch and Amanda got her purse and went to the door and went back to Billy and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for trying to help us, sir. "

Billy said sighing, "Yes, well being a father myself I found out I have to monitor children at my office too. Have a good night, dear and thank you for staying on. Things will work out. I'm sure..."

Amanda left the Agency and stopped at the market on her way home to get some things for dinner.

When she got home she and Dotty talked for a bit and things were finally back where they should be between them. She then took her boys to a movie after school and came home and had dinner with them and then talked to them as well, apologizing for her mood.

"Fellas, I'm having a problem right now with someone I work with. He and I had words a few days ago and we aren't speaking right now."

Jamie said, "Can't you just say you're sorry like you tell Phillip and I to do? "

Amanda hugged him. "Oh, sweetie. I'd love to, but sometimes adults have arguments that are a bit more complicated and aren't as easy to fix with an "I'm sorry."

Phillip shook his head and said to Jamie, "Yeah, doofus! It's hard to explain to someone like you!"

Amanda reprimanded Phillip! "That's enough, young man! I've told you time and time again not to call each other names! Now, thank you both for trying to help but I think I'm going to have to work this out on my own. Why don't you head upstairs and get ready for bed? I'll be up in a little while okay? "

They nodded and hugged and kissed her and left the kitchen while she and Dotty cleaned up. Afterwards, Dotty went up with her milk and a splash of her wine heading for her bath.

Amanda finished up in the kitchen and went up to check on the boys one more time and then changed into her sweat outfit and took her portable radio and a glass of wine out to the gazebo and sat and getting comfortable, tuned her radio to an oldies station where she heard the group ABBA singing "Knowing Me, Knowing You."

Listening to the lyrics, she sighed and turned the station. THAT song wasn't helping at all! Flipping around the dial, she came upon a talk station and the program on was called "Talk To Dory." She rolled her eyes and was about to turn the station when she suddenly heard a voice she recognized! Why on earth would he be calling THAT kind of program?!

TBC