She Can And She Did

Chapter 22

There was an animated discussion at the King home that evening as Lee joined them for dinner.

Amanda stated to her children more than once as they continued talking about sports, "Boys! Please finish eating...You can talk to Lee about the car races later..."

Phillip nodded, but taking another bite of his food chewed, answering, "Sure, Mom...Anyway, Lee, that guy Rahmann came around the curve, and the announcer then said, "Boy! That guy's really revved up! They must have told him to give it the gas-"

Just then, Amanda, who was taking a sip of her milk, suddenly spit it out, coughing uncontrollably!

Dotty jumped up, and running to the sink to get Amanda a glass of water, commented, "Oh my gosh!"

Hurrying back to the table, she saw Lee patting Amanda's back as he queried concernedly, "Are-Are you okay? What happened?"

Amanda nodded, and still coughing, stated weakly, "S-Sorry...Wrong pipe..."

Dotty, going to Amanda, giving her the water, helped her sip, answering, "Shh, drink it slowly now, Sweetheart..."

After a few moments, Amanda, clearing her throat, and wiping her mouth, responded, looking at everyone, "Sorry I scared you all...I'm alright now..."

Jamie asked, "Did it go right up your nose, Mom? I hate when I drink soda and that happens-"

Dotty, looking at Amanda carefully, admonished her grandson remarking, "That's enough, Jamie...Amanda? Are you sure you're alright now?"

Amanda sighed stating as she rose from the table, with Lee following suit, "Y-Yes, I'm fine, Mother...Boys, if you're finished, why don't you help clean up now, hmm?"

Jamie got up from his seat responding, "Sure, Mom..."

And with a final bite of his food, Phillip got up as well, answering while chewing, "That was great stuff, Mom-"

Amanda sighed once more commenting, "Phillip! Please finish chewing that last bite before you talk, Sweetheart, and then get up from the table!"

Phillip waved it away, replying with a gesture to Jamie,"I'm okay, really...I think it's your turn to wash tonight anyway, Jamie-"

Jamie stated, "Um, Doofus? We just had paper plates we ate off of-"

Phillip groaned answering, "Yeah, but we had salad, Dweeb, so we had forks too, and the glasses of milk-"

Jamie was about to respond when suddenly, a loud whistle stopped them in their tracks!

Lee, clearing his throat remarked firmly, "Fellas, I believe your mother and grandmother wanted both of you to help, so the sooner the two of you clean up, the quicker the job will be, alright? Let's go..."

Then as the boys begrudgingly began the clean up, Amanda gestured to Lee, "Can I see you outside for a minute, please?"

Lee inwardly cringed as he thought, following Amanda outside to the back yard, Oh, boy! I overstepped here, I think...

-SMK-

But when they got outside, and Amanda closed the kitchen door, she said to Lee as she pointed to the picnic table, "Let's sit down..."

Lee asked concernedly as he sat down on one side, "Everything okay?"

Amanda joined him, sitting on the opposite side, answering, "That's what I was just going to ask you...Was it uncomfortable with the boys, or-"

Lee shook his head querying, "Because of the arguing? No, kids argue. It's normal...But what made you choke on your milk in there?"

Amanda sighed responding lightly, "Oh, that...Well, I can tell you now that my family is out of earshot...Do you remember the time we stayed at Bo Johnson's ranch whle on the undercover case with Princess Penny and Prince Rheza?"

Lee, bewilderedly said, "Yeah, but-"

With a slight blush, Amanda commented, "Well, Penny thought at the time that you and I..."

Lee smirked, answered, "She thought I was cute-"

Amanda interjected, "Not that cute...Anyway, while I was trying to convince her that we weren't a couple at that time, she said she'd leave us alone for a few minutes, and that I should then give it the gas..."

Lee, finally understanding the meaning, chuckled, stating, "Wow...So, what do you think she'd say to you now?"

Amanda shrugged with a giggle, responding, "What took you two so long?"

Lee nodded, and then asked chuckling, " Right...Well, as long as we're on the subject...How do you think the evening went?"

Amanda sighed replying, "Well, I was gauging the boys' moods, not knowing, and then thought I'd just talk to them later, and-"

Suddenly, the kitchen door opened, and Dotty poking her head out answered, "Well, if you'd like my opinion, I'd say you did just fine, Lee."

Lee, turning to see her, swallowed remarking, "Really? Because I was thinking I went a bit overboard with the whistling-"

Dotty then came out, closing the door, and coming over to the picnic table stated, "Listen to me...Children need a bit of discipline now and then, and heaven knows, Amanda and I have done our best here, but sometimes a different sound is necessary."

Then bending down slightly to the couple, she whispered, "I heard the boys earlier while they were cleaning up, and I think they want to say something. Do you mind?"

Amanda and Lee shared a pensive look and then Amanda answered, "Not at all. Ask them to come out here, please..."

Dotty nodded, then turned to head back inside, and Lee then asided to Amanda, "Wonder what we're in for here-"

Amanda, seeing the boys come out to the patio, quickly asided back, "You hush! I'm sure it'll be fine."

Clearing her throat, Amanda motioned the boys over, answering, "Hi Fellas...We understand from Grandma you want to talk...So please, go right ahead..."

Phillip began first as he sat across from Lee at the picnic table, and responded, "We didn't know what you'd be like, but so far, you're not bad..."

Lee surprised, commented, "Oh, um, thanks...I like you guys, too."

With a sigh, Phillip continued, stating with a swallow, "Yeah, so, on the other hand, Jamie and I still don't really get why our dad left, but she and Dad argued a lot, so it's better..."

Phillip stopped suddenly, and then Jamie joined them at the table remarking, "I guess what Phillip wants to say also is that we don't want Mom to be sad any more, so please don't string her along-"

Amanda commented with surprise, "James Joseph! Where on earth did you hear an expression like that?"

Phillip nudged his brother, answering, " Man, you really are a dweeb-"

Amanda put up a hand responding firmly, "Stop it, Phillip! Now, as a whole, you don't mind if Lee and I start dating?"

The boys shook their heads, and Amanda sighed commenting, "Okay, well, thank you for this little talk, but I think you should go ready for bed now, alright?"

The boys nodded, and getting up from the picnic table, hugged their mother, stating, "Night, Mom..."

Amanda cleared her throat to them and motioned them to Lee, responding, "Someone else here, too..."

Phillip and Jamie both went to Lee and shook his hand replying together, "Nice to meet you, Lee...Goodnight..."

As they went inside, Lee let out a deep sigh, answering, "Whew! I guess I passed inspection."

Amanda nodded commenting, "So, what now?"

Lee looking at his watch replied, "Well, we have work in the morning, so why don't you walk me out?"

Amanda shrugged lightly, stating, "Alright..."

When they reached Lee's car by the curb in front of the house, Lee pulled her into his arms for a tender embrace, saying softly, "I don't have eyes in the back of my head like a mother would, but are we being watched right now?"

Amanda, while looking at Lee as he held her, quickly glanced towards the house, and saw the curtains from the den close then, and she giggled, "Yep..."

Lee sighed as he stepped back, and Amanda shook her head querying, "Now who's afraid of my family?"

Lee smirked as he once more pulled Amanda to him, commenting, "Me? Afraid? Get over here..."

He gave her a more passionate kiss this time, and stepping back finally, Amanda gulped remarking with wonder, "W-Wow!"

Lee answered, clearing his throat, "You're darn right, wow...Goodnight..."

As Lee then drove away, Amanda sighed blissfully as she went back inside the house, thinking, What's next for us, I wonder?

TBC