Joe pulled up in front of the house on Maplewood Drive that had been his home for a few happy years. It was a bleak January evening, but when he glanced at the house through his windshield he saw himself and Amanda approaching the house for the first time on a spring afternoon. They'd been drawn to the house immediately and instinctively knew that this was where they wanted to raise a family together. Joe was lost in his memories until he was brought back to the present by the slamming of a car door a few houses away. He looked up to see a man with a briefcase being enthusiastically greeted by two small children as their mother looked on happily. I could have had that…oh hell…I did have that until I threw it all away. I can't turn back the clock but maybe I can still be a dad to my sons. I wish I knew how to start to make things right. Joe tried to shake off his melancholy mood buoyed by the hope that Amanda would show him the way. He got out of his car, trudged up the front walk and rang the doorbell.

"Hello, Joe," Dotty greeted him with a less than warm smile. "Amanda isn't home at the moment; was she expecting you?"

"Hello, Dotty. Amanda wasn't expecting me." Joe shuffled his feet and then took a deep breath. "I was down visiting my folks and I couldn't stop thinking about the boys. I knew that I had to come home…come here and talk to them…so I just started driving and here I am. May I come in?"

"You may," Dotty said as she stepped back and let him come in, "Amanda never tried to keep you from your sons. She's even made certain that the boys have had regular contact with your parents."

"They mentioned that to me; I'm grateful to her for making sure that the boys know all of their grandparents. I appreciate all that you have done to help Amanda with the boys." Dotty had allowed him inside but had remained standing by the front door.

"There is no need for you to express appreciation; we are a family and families take care of each other. I enjoy playing an important role in the boys' lives."

"I can see how close you all are; you have a lot of influence over my sons. I hope that you won't use that influence against-"

"You'd rather that I not badmouth you to your sons…you want me to allow them to reach their own conclusions about you." Dotty walked towards the family room and Joe followed her. "It's ironic that you didn't think that Lee deserved the same courtesy."

"With all due respect, Dotty, I didn't come here to discuss him. I came here because I'm starting to understand how badly I've treated Amanda and the boys. I want-"

"That's the problem, Joe; it has always been about what you want. You waited too long…Amanda has moved on…she isn't yours to claim anymore. Lee IS a good man and I believe they have a bright future ahead of them. I won't stand by and allow you to try to come between them but I also won't interfere with your attempt to rebuild your relationship with your sons."

"I suppose I can't expect anything more than that from you under the circumstances. How can I compete against Stetson? He drives a hot car, tells tales of worldwide adventure-"

"Do you think so little of our sons?" Amanda walked into the room with her coat still on. "Yes, Lee's car and his stories would appeal to the boys but I've raised them to look at a whole person before they make any major judgments about someone they've just met." Turning to Dotty, Amanda asked," Mother, will you excuse us?"

"Yes, Dear, but I have one question to ask before I go. I've been worrying about Lee all day; what did the doctor say about his sprained ankle?"

"The doctor said that Lee was lucky that I dragged him in to see him. He hasn't been following any of the instructions that he got from the emergency room doctor. His ankle is even more swollen now then it was when you saw it and it has turned several shades of purple. Dr. McJohn ordered Lee to stay off his ankle and keep it elevated for at least twenty-four hours. He needs to alternate using hot and cold compresses on it to reduce the swelling."

"Do you think he'll follow this doctor's orders," Dotty questioned.

"If he doesn't follow them voluntarily; I'll tie him down myself," Amanda replied with a smile.

"I think he might enjoy that," Dotty replied with a laugh as she left the room. Amanda removed her coat and looked at Joe warily.

"I'm surprised to see you back here so soon. You seemed a little…overwhelmed after our dinner with the boys," Amanda observed as Joe fidgeted with a button on the coat that he was still wearing.

"I was overwhelmed; you and the boys gave me a lot to think about. I drove down to see my folks. It was a very educational visit. I saw them in a new way and I started to see things in myself that I don't like. Can we sit down and talk?"

"Of course we can talk; would you like to stay and have dinner with us?"

"I'd like to stay for dinner." Joe took off his coat and sat down. "Do you think the boys will mind my being here again so soon," he asked while tugging at the neckline of his sweater.

"They aren't going to mind, they want to spend time with you. I'll go tell Mother that you're staying for dinner and then we can talk. Amanda left the room and Joe got up to take a closer look at a group of family photos on the far wall. While he was examining the pictures Phillip and Jamie walked into the room.

"Hi, Dad," they said in unison. "Mom didn't say that you were coming," Phillip added.

"Your mom wasn't expecting me. I came here to talk to her and to both of you."

"So you want us to sit down and listen," Jamie asked matter-of-factly.

"No, I wanted to have a conversation with you," Joe clarified with a hopeful expression on his face.

Jamie looked from Joe to Phillip; Phillip's only response was a slight shrug of his shoulders. Jamie sat down on the sofa while Phillip remained standing just inside the room. One chapter of their lives was ending and a new one was beginning.

THE END

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Author's note: My thanks to Lanie for her wise advice and constructive criticism. I'd also like to thank all the readers who took the time to post reviews. I love receiving your feedback and hope that you'll continue to read my stories in the future.