Oh My Gosh

Chapter 9

Amanda got off the elevator at the Agency foyer, and greeting Mrs. Marston, answered, "The password is Willy Nilly..."

Mrs. Marston smiled, handing Amanda her I.D., and stated, "It took some doing keeping Mr. Stetson from sneaking out of here today...How are you feeling?"

Amanda shrugged lightly answering, "Better than yesterday, although I still have some hurdles to get through...I'll just head up now."

Mrs Marston, watching Amanda head up the stairs to the "Q" Bureau, thought, If anyone can rein that man in, it's Amanda King...

-SMK-

As Amanda used her key to open the "Q" door, Lee nearly barreled into her!

Amanda, backing into the door frame with surprise, responded, "Hey! Do you mind?!"

Moving aside to let her in, Lee answered, "I-I'm sorry! But I was going to come get you if Dr. Kelford didn't call soon...Are you okay?"

Amanda nodded, and commented as she entered, "Y-Yeah, but we have to talk, alright?"

Lee groaned, stating, "Oh, boy..."as he closed the door, and locking it behind Amanda as she sat down at her desk, putting the purse in her bottom left desk drawer.

He sighed tiredly as he went to his desk chair to sit once more, querying, "Alright...What now?"

Amanda scoffed, and shaking her head commented, "Uh, well, in case you're interested, I am pregnant, and you are going to be a father."

Lee, with a shrug, nodded, replying, "Okay...What else?"

Amanda stared blankly back at her fiance' asking, "You're kidding, right? We have to tell my family now, and figure out what our plans are going to be."

Lee shook his head commenting, "You're always making a mountain out of a mole hill! Your mom will be over the moon, and your kids will be okay after a fashion. In other words, they'll be fine-"

Amanda sighed, and getting her purse out of her desk drawer and getting up from her chair, remarked with finality, " You think so, huh? Okay...I'll go by myself, and tell them alone, and when you figure out what's really going on in that straw-filled head of yours, Scarecrow, call me..."

Getting to the door as Lee stared open mouthed at her, Amanda answered quietly, "You know, Joe was with me when I delivered both Phillip and Jamie, but it was later when I found myself alone in a way, although Mother was with me, that it-it just wasn't what i envisioned for my life, you know?"

With that, Amanda closed the "Q" door and headed downstairs.

Handing back her I.D. to Mrs. Marston, she stated, "Thank you. See you later-"

Then the two women turned as they heard from up above them, "Hold it right there, Amanda King!"

Amanda and Mrs. Marston saw Lee coming down the stairs, and reaching the bottom, Lee asked Amanda, "Where do you think you're going?"

A slightly perturbed Amanda answered firmly with a shrug, "Home, since you seem to believe that everything will be hunky dory-"

Lee put up a hand, commenting, "I never said that! What I meant was, that it will be fine, if we tell them together-"

Amanda, with surprise, queried softly, "Really?"

Lee sighed, and nodded as he took her hands in his own, and squeezing them gently, replied, "Of course...I don't want your mother on the warpath with me..."

Turning to Mrs. Marston as he handed her his I.D. , Lee stated, "I'll call Billy from the car to let him I'm done for the day...Thank you, Mrs. Marston."

-SMK-

As they got to Lee's car, he helped Amanda in, and getting in from the other side, remarked tersely with a gesture to his head, "By the way, I do have a brain in here...I was just trying to absorb what you were telling me, alright?"

Amanda swallowed and nodded, saying gently, "I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings-"

And Lee, starting the car, and pulling out of the Agency parking lot, first dialed Billy, explaining that he was taking Amanda home, and that he would be in tomorrow, and hanging up quickly, responded to her comment angrily with a sigh, "Well, you did a little...By somewhat comparing me to your ex?"

Amanda shook her head bewilderedly asking, "How did I do that?"

Lee answered, "Oh, that little speech you made about how you had to be self sufficient after Joe left-"

Amanda interjected, "But-But I did! In the divorce settlement, he put the house in my name, and he helped with the mortgage until I was able to afford to take care of it, and then when Mother moved in, she offered to split the mortgage, and all the utility payments with me, but I still had to get a job, Lee! I had the boys to take care of, since Joe was living in Estoccia-"

Lee, making his way then onto the beltway towards Arlington, stated, "Look! If you thought that I was even considering not sticking around because of a child that we conceived together? Well, you must have a real low opinion of me then-"

Amanda argued, "I don't! But your reaction wasn't what I expected, that's all-"

Lee gasped answering, "I was shocked, okay? Trying to wrap my head around this, Honey! Now, let's just please table this discussion, at least until we talk to your family, huh? What time do the boys get home from school?"

Looking at her watch, Amanda commented, "Around three...If their bus is on time that is...Why?"

Lee said, "Well, we could have lunch with your mom, and start the ball rolling there. What do you think?"

Amanda queried, "Are you sure?"

Lee, getting off the beltway, and going into her neighborhood, asked, "Yes! Now...Do you want me to drop you off, or stay?"

Amanda, with a swallow, touched Lee's arm, answering, "Please stay...It's gonna be hard enough explaining this all over again the right way."

Pulling into her driveway finally, Lee parked, and shutting off the motor, leaned over to kiss her cheek, commenting gently, "Let's go, then..."

Lee and Amanda had a bit of trepidation upon entering the house as Amanda called out, "Mother? Are you here?"

TBC