Unforeseen Path

Chapter 22

As Lee got off the elevator at the Agency that Monday morning the following week, he was greeted with claps and cheers! He groaned realizing everyone either listened to the call-in show or at least heard about it from none other than Francine! " All right, all right! Can everyone knock it off now?! Trust me, It won't be happening again! "

Just then, Billy's voice boomed over the crowd! "People, Scarecrow's right! The show is over! Let's all get back to work before I start handing out pretty little pink slips, capice'?"

He looked at Lee and gestured to his office. Lee shook his head. This wasn't going to be his day!

As they sat down Billy smiled and said, "So, you've had a busy month haven't you? "

Lee sighed and said quietly, "I've had better, believe me..."

Billy nodded. "I know, son. What I was referring to though was you and Amanda. You are still talking, right? "

Lee shrugged. "Yeah. We uh, decided to go slow since we'd been through our share of grief with Emily and the Colonel and my bone-headed attitude lately. "

Billy said, "I thought she might have come in with you-. "

Lee shook his head. "No. We're not joined at the hip, contrary to what you and everyone else around here thinks! By the way, did you hear the program first or Francine? "

Billy chuckled, "N-No. Actually, It was Leatherneck. He brought up his transister saying, "You ain't gonna believe this!" and proceded to play the program. I just have to ask you. What ever made you decide to call that show when you could've just talked to me or-..."

Lee groaned and nodded. "Yeah, I know. Amanda already asked me why we couldn't have talked it out ourselves and also why I couldn't have named her something else besides "Angela." Too obvious, she told me..."

Billy's phone rang and he answered. "Melrose. " It was Amanda. "Oh yes, we were just wondering-? I see. No, just come when you can. Goodbye, dear. "

Hanging up he said to Lee, "Amanda's running late and was at her boy's school. She'll be here sometime soon though. Why don't you see to the work that's piled up on your desk, hmm? "

Lee got up and nodded going to the door saying cheerlessly, "Gee thanks, boss."

Meanwhile, Amanda was getting into her car when Jamie ran out to her! She got out again concerned saying, "Jamie! You should be in class! What's the matter, honey? "

Jamie looked frustratedly at her and said, "Kids in my class were talking about some radio show from last night and they said the woman on there sounded like you! Why were you on the radio? "

Amanda put her hands on her son's shoulders and said, " Honey, the question I want you to ask them is why were they listening to that kind of program at that hour and where their parents were? I don't allow you to be up at that hour and the second question would of course be why they can't mind their business? "

Jamie nodded and Amanda hugged him and said, "Just ask the first question, okay? I will talk to you and Phillip later about this, all right? "

Jamie said, "This is about the guy from work, right? "

Amanda put him off by pointing to the school and saying, "March, young man! And have a good day! I love you! "

Jamie ran off yelling, "I love you too, Mom! "

Amanda got into her car and starting it , shook her head. "What is it with kids today? "she wondered as she pulled out of the school parking lot and headed for the Virginia Parkway to go to work.

As she was at last getting to the Agency, she made a last minute decision to go to Rock Creek Park.

At a traffic light nearby, Francine happened to see Amanda and wondered why she went there. The light turned green however and Francine was honked at from behind and she growled, "Okay! Sheesh!"

She made her way into the Agency parking lot and parked getting out with her purse and a file box and heading into the building.

Greeting Mrs. Marston, she gave her password and getting her pass got into the elevator and headed down to the Agency where she got out and proceded to put the box on her desk. Seeing a few men walk by she groaned, "Hey, guys! Thanks for the help. Appreciate it!"

Going into Billy's office with the top folder from the box she said, "Morning, Billy. Here's the info you wanted from the Appropriations Committee. Nothing shady with the wire taps from that Senate hearing, but they'll contact you later if anything else should come up. "

Coming out of the office, she spotted Lee at the coffee machine as he was getting a refill. Grinning she walked up beside him and nudged him gently and teased, "Hi, "Sam."

Lee sighed shaking his head as he replied, " Rona. "

Francine giggled and said, "Oh, c'mon! You have to admit, it is a little funny! Here you are, a suave sophisticated ladies man going on that show? Wonders will never cease with you, will they? Besides, Someone beat me to this newsbreak last night-."

Lee nodded. "I know. Leatherneck got to Billy! Can we drop this already?! By the way, did you see Amanda at all yet? She shoulda been here by now..."

Francine poured herself a cup of coffee and said, "Yeah. I saw her pull into Rock Creek Park. I was in the middle of traffic so I couldn't follow her. Wonder why she's playing hooky today? "

Lee sighed putting down his coffee cup on his desk and shook his head going towards the elevator, "Tell Billy I'll be back..."

As Lee was in the elevator and it closed Billy came out of his office and said to Francine, "Where the hell is Scarecrow going ? He just got here a little while ago! "

Francine sighed, "I guess work will have to take a back seat until the saga of " Scarecrow and Mrs. King." reaches a conclusion by which they either quit, get married or move far far away to Never-Never Land where they never grow up and make their own rules about how they want to live their lives ignoring all their friends and family. Tsk-tsk-tsk..."

Billy sighed angrily going back to his office and said, "When they return tell them to report to my office immediately! And find me some aspirin and antacids! Pronto!"

As he slammed his office door, Francine jumped and swallowed hard murmuring, "I sure don't want to be those two when they get back here and have to be in there! Whew..." Getting on her desk phone, she dialed the infirmary. "Yeah, this is Desmond. Can you send up some supplies for Billy? It's gonna be another one of those days! "

TBC