Oh My Gosh

Chapter 13

Amanda came downstairs a couple of hours later after her nap, and finding Dotty in the family room reading, asked, "Mother? Where are the boys? I wanna talk to them."

Dotty sighed as she put down the magazine she'd been reading, and getting up from the couch, stated, "Phillip went for a walk-He said he'd be back in time for dinner, and Jamie is up in the treehouse...Do you want me to get him at least?"

Amanda shook her head answering, "N-No, thank you, Mother. I'll go see him now..."

As Amanda reached the back door, Dotty asked, "Did you get any rest at all?"

Amanda shrugged, replying with a gesture, "Some, but with all that's on my mind right now-"

Dotty nodded, commenting, "Well, I did something constructive while you were upstairs...I called Joe, and let him have it-"

Amanda, stunned, queried, "What?! Oh, Mother, how could you?! It's gotta be midnight or later-"

Dotty, pointing her index finger at Amanda, responded haughtily, "Look here, Missy! If he hadn't decided to go off into "Never Never Land" years ago, you wouldn't be in this predicament, and I'd have two happy grandchildren now-"

Amanda sighed, and putting up a hand to stop her, remarked, "I-I know, Mother! All I meant was, that it should be me that talks to him, not you, alright? And anyway, I'm worried about Lee as well here...Did he call?"

Dotty shook her head answering, "No, but you have a phone in your room-"

Amanda interjected, "I unplugged it so I could rest...I'll plug it back in later...I'm gonna go see Jamie right now, and then help you with dinner-"

Dotty responded quickly, " It's fine, Dear. We have leftover pot roast I can heat up, but I forgot to get succotash, so we'll have carrots, alright?"

Amanda went over to her mother, and kissing her cheek, answered gently, "That's fine, Mother, and I'm sorry if I snapped at you about Joe, but I think this is something the boys and I have to work out ourselves, okay? But we love you to pieces for trying to help."

Dotty sighed, and holding Amanda, replied warmly, "Thank you, Darling...Go see to your second baby now, hmm?"

-SMK-

Amanda went out the back door, making her way to the treehouse, and climbing up the ladder slowly, she tapped on the hatch, asking, "Jamie? Can I come in?"

Jamie, surprised, opened the hatch quickly, and asked helping her inside, "Mom?! What are you doing? Should you even be doing that?"

Amanda, once inside, watched as Jamie closed the hatch, and then smiled, folding him into a hug, as she commented softly, "I'm just fine, Sweetheart, but thank you for worrying about me, anyway."

Gesturing towards the stool, Amanda said, "I will have a seat though, if you don't mind, huh?"

Jamie quickly nodded, as Amanda sat down, and he asked, "Mom? How do you really feel about all this?"

Amanda shrugged, answering, "Oh, I dunno yet, Honey...I mean, it's been twelve years since I had you, and I guess we'll have to look for a new place soon...Of course, I could always fix up the attic for Phillip, and you could then share the room with the new baby, and-"

Jamie groaned, "Mom!"

Amanda giggled, and pulling Jamie towards her, commented, "Oh, Honey! I was teasing! Of course we'll get a new place..."

Then, noticing the silence, Amanda queried gently, "Jamie? What is it, Sweetie?"

Jamie shrugged answering, "Well, I've seen Phillip mad before, but this was different-even for him, you know?"

Amanda sighed as she reached out to stroke Jamie's head, replying softly, "Yeah, I know, Honey...But it's just gonna take time to sort it all out. You heard the saying, "Rome wasn't built in a day" haven't you?"

Jamie nodded, and Amanda continued, responding, "Well, in this case, I have to calm your brother down, and make him see that it will work...No, this situation was not planned, but Lee and I will figure it out, so I don't want you to worry about this, alright?"

Looking at her watch, Amanda got up answering as she hugged him, "I'd better go try to find Phillip now, but I love you, and I appreciate you worrying...You coming down?"

Jamie responded quickly, "Sure! Here, let me go down first, okay?"

As Jamie opened the hatch and went down, reaching the ground, he then called up, saying, "Okay, Mom! C'mon down. I'm right here, okay?"

Amanda sighed and replied, "Alright, Sweetie...Coming down..."

As Amanda made her way carefully down the ladder, she made it to the bottom, and coming off the ladder, commented to Jamie, "See? I'm just fine."

Jamie went to her, and hugging her, queried, "Mom? Please don't do that ever again, okay? At least not until after the baby comes?""

Amanda kissing the top of his head commented, "I"ll be fine-I promise, Sweetheart, but thank you. Now, can you help Grandma with getting dinner ready, while I go hunt down your brother?"

-SMK-

Meanwhile, Lee had been driving around since leaving Amanda's place, and found himself going to Rock Creek Park.

Finding a space, he parked the "Vette, and getting out, headed for the foot bridge, where he and Amanda would sometimes go to figure out a case, or just to talk.

As Lee got to the bridge, he looked around at the scenery, noticing people walking, and one couple having a late picnic of some sort, and then from the other side of the lake, he thought he saw someone who looked like Phillip...skipping stones?

Lee, with a sigh, then surveyed the immediate area, noticing a couple near some trees, with binoculars!

Perfect, he thought! Probably bird watchers, but he had to find out if it was actually Phillip he saw after all!

Going casually over to them, he asked, "Excuse me, are you looking for a particular bird? I couldn't help but notice your binoculars, and I saw one that looked like a Blue Bird not more than five to ten feet away from here-"

The woman stated excitedly, nudging the man next to her, "Eugene! That's the one we've been looking for!"

The man, "Eugene", asked Lee, "Are you sure? Amelia and I have been looking for that one for a long time, and our bird group leader tells me that they're pretty rare in these parts. How long have you been a birdwatcher?"

Lee chuckled lightly, replying, "Just starting out, I'm afraid...In fact, it may have been a Red Robin...Um, could I possibly borrow your binoculars for just a moment to be sure?"

Eugene nodded and handing them to Lee, answered, "Of course, but be sure to let us know exactly where, so we can find it before the sun goes down here?"

Lee nodded, and first made a panning motion to scan the area, immediately zeroing in on the boy, and it was Phillip, who was across the park on the other side of the lake?!

Then, remembering the couple next to him, made another quick sweep, and announcing with a gesture as he handed the binoculars back to the couple,"Ah! There it is! About thirty feet northwest of the park...I'd go now if I were you! Here...And thank you."

Amelia commented quickly as she pulled Eugene away with her, "Oh, you're welcome! Hope you find yours! C'mon, Eugene! Hurry!"

Then as the couple hurried away, Lee made his way over to where Phillip was, which took some time.

Coming upon him finally, Lee noticed the boy sitting on the ground, pulling blades of grass, and clearing his throat, asked carefully, "Phillip? I-I don't mean to intrude here, but this park isn't exactly around the corner from your house...Do your mom or grandmother know that you're even here?"

Phillip sighed and shrugged, commenting, "I told Grandma I was taking a walk, and I'd be back before dinner...Why?"

Lee answered, looking at his watch, "Well, it's almost five thirty now, and the sun will be setting soon, and if I'm not mistaken, the bus that goes by the park won't be back for at least another hour."

Phillip groaned, and shaking his head, responded, "Aw, man! Mom's gonna kill me-"

Lee commented with a gesture, "No! Not if I give you a lift home. Plus, I have a phone in my car, and we can call her from there, alright? Let's go..."

When they at last reached the parking lot a few minutes later, they got in, and buckling up, Phillip queried, "Are you sure? I was kinda crappy to you earlier...I'm sorry about that, but-"

Just then, the phone rang, and Lee stated, "Hold on..."

Answering, Lee said, "Stetson."

It was Amanda who responded in a ramble, "Hi, it's me. I tried reaching you at the apartment, but you weren't there, and I didn't know if you wanted to come back for dinner tonight, with everything that went on here earlier, but Phillip is missing, and I've looked everywhere in the neighborhood and couldn't find him even in the park! He told Mother he was going to take a walk, but that was almost two hours ago, and-"

Lee stated firmly, "A-Amanda! It's alright, Honey! He's in the car with me. We're leaving Rock Creek Park right now..."

Lee, handing the receiver to Phillip, nudged the boy's shoulder, commenting, "You're up..."

Phillip sighed and responded, taking the receiver, "Hi, Mom...I'm okay, really. I'm sorry I worried you, but-"

Amanda cut him off commenting briskly, "Oh, you're gonna be sorry when you get your butt home, Phillip Thomas! I know you're upset, but don't you ever scare your grandmother or me like this ever again! Do you understand me?!"

With a gulp, Phillip replied quietly, "Yes, Mom."

Amanda sighed heavily answering, "Okay...Please put Lee back on, while you think about what you did today..."

As Phillip gave Lee back the receiver, he felt tears come to his eyes, and clearing his throat, turned away to look out the window, wiping his now damp eyes with his shirt sleeves.

Lee, seeing the obvious pain Phillip was in, reached in his pants pocket for his handkerchief, and handing it to Phillip, answered gently, "Here..."

Lee then got back on with Amanda, remarking, "It's okay, Sweetheart. I'll bring him home, and we can talk about it all after dinner?"

Amanda replied softly, "Alright. I love you."

Lee stated, "I love you too, Honey..."

When they hung up, Lee glanced over at Phillip, who continued to stare out the window morosely.

Lee, starting up the car, pulled out of Rock Creek Park thinking angrily, Joe King, if you were here right now, I'd clobber you, but since you're not, I'm going to try and help Amanda put this kid back together somehow if I can...

TBC