Unforeseen Path

Chapter 21

As Amanda began listening to the call-in-show she came upon on her radio at home, another surprised listener at the Agency grabbed his portable radio and ran to Billy's office and burst in saying, "You ain't gonna believe this! "

Billy looked at Leatherneck and said, "What are you still doing here this late? "

Leatherneck said, "Never mind me! Listen to Ace here!" He put the radio down as they listened and Leatherneck sat down saying, "I couldn't believe it myself! "

The radio show hostess said, "Hello and welcome to "Talk To Dory." Tonight we have a new caller. "Sam" is it? "

Lee Stetson cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah. Sorry. Just a little nervous..."

Dory said, "It's fine. What can I help you with tonight? "

Lee gulped. "Well, I'm having a bit of trouble with someone I work with. I've known her for almost three years now and I thought things were going well, but I slipped a while ago and said something out of line to her and my friends there seem to believe I went overboard in my comment to her."

Dory Hawkins said carefully, "Really? Well, was it a sexist remark ? If it was then you're going to have a lot of women calling my station and heating up my boards!"

Lee said hastily, "N-No, no! It was j-just that... well, this woman... I'll call her "Angela." She has a habit of talking a bit too long and I just wanted her to stop for a moment and so I said the first thing that came to me which was-..."

Billy listening to Lee's response put his hands over his eyes and groaned, "Ohh, no!"

Dory said chuckling at "Sam's" response, "Y-You said that? Oh, my! Well, "Sam"? Do you know what my phone board is doing right now? It's lighting up like a Christmas tree! It means we are going to have a busy hour ahead of us while I try calming down the thousands of angry women callers! "Sam", have you ever been in a real doghouse? It's small, cramped and there's virtually no means of escape which is what you're in right now! We have to take a commercial break but when we come back, we'll take a look at your relationship with "Angela", and see if we can't figure out a solution to your problem. Before I go though, just what was her response to what you said? "

Lee swallowed hard and said, "That she couldn't stand the sight of me."

Dory said, "Whoa! Okay listeners, we'll be right back. "Sam", please stay on the line..."

As the commercial came on, Amanda shook her head! What was wrong with this man? Why couldn't he call her or stop by so they could at least try to work it out together? She knew he was shy but it was bordering on ridiculous here!

Meanwhile at the Agency, Billy got a call from Francine saying, "Billy, is that Lee I hear on the radio? "

Billy nodded, "Yes, but why are you up this late? You have a meeting at the Capitol early and-."

Francine nodded, "I know but I was just getting home from a date and wasn't tired yet. Oh, I gotta go. The show's back. See you tomorrow! "

Dory came back and said, "Well we opened the show with quite a bang eh, listeners? Okay, "Sam", you're still with me here I hope? "

Lee said, "Yeah, but now I'm not sure I did the right thing here either. Maybe I'd better go-."

Dory said frantically, "No, no! Please, "Sam". Stay with me here, okay? No one can come after you with pitchforks uh, unless you're here in New York. You're not, are you? "

Lee chuckled nervously, "Uh no, ma'am. Definitely not. "

As Dory was talking, her producer tapped on the glass and mouthed to her that "Angela" was the next caller!

Dory gave a thumbs-up and said, " Uh listeners, you're not going to believe this but I have "Angela" on the other line! We're making headway here and ratings history! "

At home, Francine was cheering! "Let him have it, Amanda! Whoo-hoo! "

At the Agency, Billy and Leatherneck were rapt with attention to see how this would play out for Lee! Billy hoped he wouldn't have another funeral to attend!

Amanda had gotten her kitchen phone and brought it out to her picnic table to be on the program. She never thought she'd be doing anything like this and hoped she wouldn't ever have to do it again but if this was the only way to get Lee to talk, then she had no choice!

Dory got on the line. "Angela"? Welcome to the show. So let's review for those who are just tuning in. "Sam" and "Angela" are having a problem in their current relationship. How did you two meet, "Angela"? "

Amanda shook her head thinking, "He couldn't think of another name to call me? Anyone who knows me at the Agency is gonna know who they mean here!"

Dory said, "Uh, "Angela"? You still with us? "

Amanda said quickly, "Oh, sorry. Yeah. Well, we met at a train station. He asked me to help with his location shoot. He's a director at our film company where we do documentaries. "

Dory nodded. "Uh-huh. So how did that make you feel when "Sam" made that certain comment to you that day of the argument? "

Amanda sighed saying simply, "Well, I've been around when he's lost his temper and he usually calms down later but that day I'd simply had enough and upset as I was, told him I couldn't stand the sight of him. It was a knee-jerk reaction to his mood that day. He was recovering from a head injury and like a fool I let him have it back ten-fold. Dory, the man simply doesn't know what a real relationship entails. He has to learn to talk to me when he's upset with me and not just lash out thinking that I'll just "get over it." I'm more than willing to meet him halfway on this, but it takes two to make a real relationship work and at this point, I don't really think he's able to. "

Dory was stunned seeing her switchboard light up and letting out a breath said, "Whew! Well thank you, "Angela." Let's take another break here and we'll hear "Sam's" response and maybe things will be better for them..."

As the program went to a break, Amanda hung up the phone. Getting up from the picnic table she brought the phone back into the house and slowly went out the front door realizing where Lee was calling from! The connection sounded very close to her so she decided to see if her hunch was right about where Lee was. As she headed down her block a bit, she saw his car parked in the usual spot and slowly smiled. Maybe he did want to work things out after all!

As she reached his car, she tapped on his window. Lee was startled for a moment but put down his window and said sheepishly, "Hi. Bet you're wondering what I'm doing here? "

Amanda chuckled softly, " No, I know. But let me in the car anyway because I wanna hear what you're gonna say to "Angela."

Lee groaned and opened the passenger side for her and Amanda got in giggling and pointed to the phone! "You're on, big guy. "

Lee sighed as Dory said, "Welcome back listeners. Unfortunately we lost "Angela", but we still have "Sam." How are you, "Sam" ? "

Lee said, "Well, I wanna thank you for trying to help me Dory and to tell you where I'm located right now. "

Dory said, "Oh? I'm sure our listeners are eager to know as well. Where are you right now? "

Lee took Amanda's hand and squeezed it gently as he said, " After being unceremoniously beaten in the head by "Angela" and many of our well-meaning friends lately with pure common sense I decided to park in her neighborhood a few feet from her own driveway to let her know that I do indeed want to work things out and calling your program seemed to be the best way to do it. Thank you for your time. Goodnight."

Hanging up he looked at Amanda who had tears in her eyes. She said, "Boy, when you wanna impress a girl you sure go all the way, don't you? "

Lee shrugged. "How else was I gonna apologize publicly and tell you that I know I behaved abominably and I'd try to never do it again? "

Amanda leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Why do you think I was on that program? I had to reach you somehow..."

Still holding her hand, he turned it and kissed her palm again and again and then looking at her said, "I'd take you somewhere for coffee, but I know it's real late."

Amanda touched his cheek and said sighing, "Yeah. If you want, maybe we could do it tomorrow? "

Lee nodded. "Sure. "

Amanda then got out of the car and Lee joined her. He took her hand and said, " A gentleman should always walk a lady to her door. "

Amanda blushed. "Thank you, kind sir. "

When they got to her back door they slowly and passionately kissed, feeling things they hadn't felt in a long time since their previous relationships with others.

They reluctantly let go and Lee sighed. "Goodnight, "Angela."

Amanda said, "Goodnight, "Sam."

TBC