Oh My Gosh

Chapter 5

Amanda and Lee were outside sitting across from one another at Amanda's picnic table on her patio that early afternoon, and Amanda sighing at Lee, asked, "Well?"

Lee shrugged answering, "Well, what?"

As Amanda continued to stare at him, Lee threw up his hands, and queried, "What do you want me to say, here, huh? You're not in that condition, so-"

Amanda folded her arms across her chest and responded, "The question was not that hard, Lee Stetson...For the last time, what would you do if I was pregnant? And you'd better think carefully before answering, hmm?"

Lee swallowed hard, and nodding slowly, commented quietly, "Okay, but you have to cut me some slack here, because, as you know, I've never been in that type of situation..."

He sighed, looking at Amanda, and as he reached for her hands, held them gently, and replied softly, "I would ask you what plans we need to make, how many months we have to get everything organized so that we're ready for it. We would also need to discuss this with your mother, but not before I would officially meet the boys...Okay?"

Amanda swallowed hard as she reached over to kiss him gently on the mouth, and whispered, "Thank you for putting my mind at ease."

Lee commented lightly, "It's-It's okay...As long as we're speaking in the hypothetical sense...So, would you like to have dinner out tonight?"

Amanda asked, "We could have dinner here? I'm worried about Mother as it is, and you could meet the boys anyway, and..."

Seeing a sense of uneasiness in Lee's facial expression, Amanda shook her head remarking, "Oh, um...I-I'm sorry...I really shouldn't push you into something you're not ready for."

Lee shook his head quickly, stating, "N-No, I'm sorry...This whole thing is kinda throwing me for a loop here...But if you're sure about it?"

Amanda nodded and responded, "Yeah...You'll be fine. Besides, I mentioned to them this morning that you and I had just started dating...They seemed alright with it in any case, but look...If you change your mind later, and want to do it another time, I'll understand."

Looking at his watch, Lee got up from the picnic table answering, "No, tonight's fine... Sorry, but I've gotta go meet Billy on a case...So, is six thirty, okay? Can I bring something?"

Amanda shook her head as she got up also, commenting, "Sure, six thirty is fine, but you don't have to bring anything...Thank you, though."

Amanda was going to walk with him to the driveway, but heard the kitchen phone ringing, and stated to Lee, "Sorry...Mother's resting, and I don't want it to wake her."

Lee waved as he blew a kiss to her, replying quickly, "Go ahead. I'll see you later...

-SMK-"

He left, and Amanda went into the house quickly to answer it, saying as she picked up the receiver, "Hello? Oh, hello, Dr. Goodman...Yes, I'm fine...Why?"

But as she listened to what he had to say, she went carefully to the kitchen chair and sat down, resting her elbow on the table, and brought her hand up to go over her eyes as she queried quietly with a gulp, "Wh-What? What did you just say?"

As she continued to listen to the doctor, she suddenly said, "I'll have to call you back...There's someone at the front door...Yes, I will. Goodbye, Dr. Goodman..."

Hanging up, Amanda shook her head, and going over to the family room couch, sank down against the pillows, murmuring slowly, "Oh my gosh!"

-SMK-

Lee arrived at six-thirty on the dot that evening, parking his car at the curb in front of Amanda's house.

Getting out, he took a deep cleansing breath, readying himself for the night ahead, then closed and locked the car, and walked towards the front door.

Shaking his head, he thought to himself, Why the hell am I so nervous? It's Amanda, for crying out loud!

But then he thought, It's also Amanda's family, and this is the real deal this time! No cover story of any kind, except for the IFF job...

Reaching the front door, he rang the doorbell, and only waited a few moments when the door opened, and it was Amanda, with a slight smile on her face, answering as she looked at his evening attire, "You clean up nice, Big Fella...Come on in..."

As he entered, he kissed her cheek, responding, " Thanks...You look terrific as well."

He followed her into the kitchen, where he was greeted by Dotty who queried, "Hello, Mr. Stetson...Would you like a drink?"

Lee smiled commenting, "Yes, thank you, and call me Lee, please."

Dotty smiled and nodding, replied, "Alright, Lee..."

Amanda noticed the boys watching their movie on the TV, and asked them, "Fellas? Come on over here and meet Mr. Stetson, please..."

Turning off the TV, they got off the couch, and came over slowly, and stood near Amanda.

Amanda, putting a hand on each boy's shoulder, stated with a gesture, "Lee, this is Phillip and this is Jamie...Fellas, this is Lee Stetson..."

Shaking hands with both boys, Lee answered warmly, "Nice to meet you guys...Uh sorry, I didn't mean for you to shut off your movie-"

Phillip shrugged responding, "It's okay, Mr. Stetson. We saw it like three times in the movie theater with our dad after it came out last year."

Lee asked, " Oh,yeah? Which one is it?"

Jamie replied, "Top Gun! It's excellent!"

Lee grinned saying, "Oh, you're right about that!"

Phillip commented excitedly, "The way he spins that plane on his maneuver is great, and-"

Dotty then answered, "Alright, everyone...Dinner is ready...Boys, I'll need a hand bringing things to the dining room, please."

Lee asked, "Can I help at all, Mrs. West?"

But Dotty shook her head replying, "No, thank you, Lee. You and Amanda just go on in and sit down."

Lee noticed when everyone was seated that Amanda and Dotty were having milk with the boys, while he had his scotch.

Glancing Amanda's way, he thought, she doesn't seem sick or anything...Wonder what's up?

Meanwhile, Amanda, with a half smile, looked back at Lee, thinking, Gosh...How did our hypothetical situation turn into a real one? And how do I tell him? And then there's Mother and the boys, who I haven't told yet either!

Things just became very complicated for Amanda that evening...

TBC