Lee Vs. Dotty

Chapter 1

It had been almost six months since Lee and Amanda had eloped, but during her recovery from the shooting, they had privately discussed having a second wedding for family and friends, so that Lee could finally move into the house and be a real member of the family. It also helped that he and Jamie were getting on much better by then.

He had also decided to keep the apartment for Agency business, as well as for he and Amanda to have some time to themselves when they needed a break.

But trouble soon began a month after the second wedding and Lee moving in, as Amanda was pulling her Wagoneer into the driveway one Saturday afternoon. She parked the car behind Lee's, and seeing Phillip and Jamie out on the front steps, asked as she got out, "Hi, Guys...Can you help me bring in the groceries, please?"

Phillip cocked his head and said, "You're kidding, right?"

Amanda cleared her throat and responded firmly, "No, I'm not, Young Man. What's the matter?"

Jamie piped up, "I'd walk softly and carry a big stick if I were you, Mom..."

Amanda sighed, realizing that her husband and mother were having yet another difference of opinion and taking her purse out of the car, stated, "Oh, no! They're at it again? What is it this time?"

Phillip answered, "The cable bill came, and Grandma threw a fit, and Lee said, "It's not your problem. Don't worry about it."

Jamie then added, mimicking Dotty's voice, "Have you heard of a household budget, Young Man?", so that's when Phillip and I came out here...Mom, are they ever gonna get along?"

Amanda went to the boys, and sitting down between them on the front steps, put her arms around them answering quietly, "Guys, this is just an adjustment period, alright? Believe it or not, your dad and Grandma went toe to toe on some things after he and I married years ago."

Phillip asked, "What about Grandpa West? What did he do?"

Amanda remarked, "Well, your grandpa died while I was in college, and after your dad and I divorced, that's when I had Grandma move in with us to help out, remember?"

Phillip nodded commenting, "Oh, that's right...But did Dad and Grandma ever yell at each other like this?"

Amanda sighed once more answering, "No, because I was the peacemaker of sorts back then, and I guess I have to do it all over again."

Getting up from the front steps, Amanda remarked to both boys, "Okay...Here's what we're going to do. We'll each get a bag of groceries and bring them in and then-"

Suddenly, the front door opened and Lee, slamming it, came out mumbling tersely, and as he looked at Amanda's car behind the 'Vette, he growled at her, "Can you move the car? I have to get out of here-"

But Amanda shook her head responding calmly, "No, I won't. But what you can do is help us bring in the groceries, so you and Mother can work out whatever silly argument you had before I came home-"

Lee gestured angrily towards the house commenting, " Silly?! I add a few other channels to our cable TV and your mother squawks about a budget? We make enough to be able to afford a few luxuries, don't you agree?"

Amanda stated quickly as she glanced quickly at the boys and then back at her husband, "Um, Lee, can't we discuss this inside, please?"

But Lee stood shaking his head and clearing his throat, answered calmly, also aware of the boys, "No, I'm far too angry to discuss anything right now. So, either you move your Jeep, or give me the keys right now...Please?"

With an eye roll, Amanda shook her head, and reached in her purse for the car keys, tossing them to Lee, answering, "Here...At least let us get the groceries before you peel out of here, hmm?"

With that, Amanda gestured to the boys to follow her to the back of the Jeep, and as she and the boys each took two bags, she remarked to Lee, " Alright, Mister... You go cool off someplace! But when you get back, you and Mother are going to talk and straighten this and anything else that's bugging you two out! Do I make myself clear?"

Lee was about to respond when Amanda nodded and cutting him off replied, "Good!"

Gesturing to the boys, she stated, "Alright, Guys, March!"

Shaking his head, Lee shut the back of the Jeep, and went towards the front, climbing in.

As he started the motor, and checked the mirrors to make sure everything was clear, he backed the car out, and leaving Maplewood Drive muttered, "We'll see about that..."

TBC