Oh My Gosh

Chapter 14

When Phillip and Lee entered the house that evening, Amanda was at least a bit calmer as she greeted them at the foyer, asking Phillip, "Are you all right?"

Phillip nodded, answering, "Y-Yeah, and I'm real sorry I scared you guys, okay?"

Swallowing, Amanda said firmly with a gesture, "Before you go upstairs and wash up, I need you to go apologize to your grandmother...NOW!"

Phillip gulped, and quickly nodding, went to the kitchen.

Amanda went to Lee's arms, and as he kissed her, he then stepped back responding, "He didn't say much in the car, but I could tell something was really eating him up, Honey."

When Amanda shook her head, commenting, "Yeah, well-",

Lee stated, "Look, I know it's none of my business here, but-"

Amanda, putting a hand on Lee's chest, remarked quickly, "No, I want to include you in on things here since we are engaged...Look, Mother was trying to help here, so while I was napping earlier, she called Joe to have it out with him about leaving us years ago-"

Lee gave out a low whistle, replying softly, "Yikes...What did he say?"

Amanda shrugged responding, "According to Mother, she "let him have it" and hung up."

Lee shook his head querying, "Put the fear of God into him, did she?"

Then, noticing Phillip coming towards the stairs, and sitting down, Lee nudged Amanda gently, answering, "I'm gonna go see if Dotty needs some help..."

He carefully passed Phillip, giving him a gentle squeeze on the shoulder, and went into the kitchen, leaving Phillip and Amanda alone.

Sighing and swallowing hard, Amanda approached Phillip by the banister, and asked quietly, "Do you maybe want to talk now?"

Phillip gulped, his tears evident as they fell, as he cried, "I-I don't want you to hate me, Mom!"

Amanda was stunned as she then sat down next to Phillip, and pulling him gently to her arms, stated firmly, "Phillip Thomas King! I could never hate any child I brought into this world, and that includes you!"

As Phillip's sobbing calmed down after a few minutes, Amanda whispered, "Let's-Let's go into the den, and talk some more, okay? C'mon..."

As the two went quietly into the den, closing the door, Jamie, reading from the wing chair, asked, "Grandma? Is Phillip gonna be okay?"

Dotty sighed and nodding, answered, "Yes, Darling...But it's going to take time and patience. So, what I'd like is for you to be especially nice to him, and only help him if he asks, hmm? Can you do that?"

Jamie nodded, saying, "Sure, Grandma."

Dotty commented, "Thank you, Honey...Now, would you please help Lee set the dining room table? The pot roast is almost ready with the carrots."

Jamie nodded, and putting down his book on the coffee table, went to help Lee with silverware and napkins in the dining room...

-SMK-

Meanwhile, Amanda, sitting on the den couch with Phillip, remarked softly, "I'm so sorry this whole thing with Lee and I upset you so-"

Phillip shook his head answering, "Lee's a good guy...Really...But I can't help thinking-"

Amanda kissed his temple, and queried, " I know...So, what do you think we should do about this, huh?"

Phillip shrugged, stating irritatedly, "I dunno, Mom...I mean, I love Dad, but I'm remembering that time more than I want to, and it's making me mad now...Why?"

Amanda swallowed hard at seeing Phillip react in a strong manner. It meant that he was growing up, and away from her a bit, and that thought stung a bit as she listened to him!

Amanda then sighed, and realized what she had to do, as she said with a gesture, "Because your dad isn't here for you to yell at about that time when he left us...Honey, you're hurting, and I don't like that at all, but I think now is the perfect time to talk to him...Man to man. Hand me the phone, please, and his number is in the top drawer of the desk there..."

Phillip, bringing the phone over to her, also handed the piece of paper with his father's number on it, and asked concernedly, "You sure, Mom? It's gotta be almost two in the morning there."

Amanda shrugged, and answering determinedly as she dialed the long distance number, "I don't really care right now. We don't know when he'll be back in town, so this is the best we can do for the moment...By the way, your grandmother already talked to him earlier, which I didn't know about until after she had called him...Now, you be straight forward with him, tell him why you're upset, and tell him I will call him tomorrow if he wants to discuss this further, alright?"

As Phillip commented,"Sure," Amanda heard the phone on the other end pick up and Joe groggily stated, "H-Hello?"

Amanda remarked, "Hello, Joe. It's Amanda...There's no emergency, but Phillip needs to speak to you about something important...What? Yes, I know what time it is there, but when you're available to talk, he will be getting ready for school in the morning our time...No, he can't do this later because he's upset now...Here he is, Joe..."

Handing the receiver to Phillip, Amanda commented gently patting his arm, "You talk as long as you need to...I'll have your dinner warming in the oven, okay?"

Phillip gave a half smile to her answering, "Thanks, Mom..."

Amanda then came out of the den, and as she closed the den door, Dotty asked, "Does Phillip want dinner? I put it in the oven-"

Amanda commented, joining the group in the dining room, as Lee got up to seat her, "As soon as he's done talking to Joe..."

-SMK-

They were midway through dinner when Phillip came out of the den, saying, "I'm done, Mom. And Dad did say he will talk to you later...Much later..."

Amanda then asked, " Okay...You hungry?"

Phillip replied, "Yeah, I'll get my dinner out of the oven. Thanks, Mom."

Coming into the dining room a few moments later with his plate and a glass of milk, he sat next to Jamie, answering, "You know, it wasn't hard to talk to him...Once the swearing stopped, I mean."

Lee chuckled and nudged Amanda responding, "Ooh! You gave Joe a piece of your mind, huh?"

Amanda tilted her head replying, "Hey, no one messes with my kids and gets away with it...Especially if it's their father...So, are you feeling better, Honey?"

Phillip nodded answering," Yeah...We talked, we yelled, we cried...It was alright."

Then, looking at Lee, he stated contritely, "And Lee? I'm sorry for dumping all over you. Everything was just hitting me at once, you know?"

Lee nodded, and clearing his throat, remarked, "It's okay, Chief. Life can sometimes throw you stuff you're not ready for, and it takes time to get through it, but you'll make it."

Phillip nodded, and then, looking at Jamie, he commented, "You probably don't remember much about that time with Dad, but I'll tell you anything you want to know, okay?"

Jamie nodded, then, looking over at his mother, asked, "Is-Is it okay to still love him, Mom? I mean, I do, but it seems weird now."

Amanda reached across the table to touch his hand, and answered softly, "Of course! He and I had our problems, but he loved both of you, and he always will, okay? Now, let's finish eating before everything gets cold, huh?"

And as the rest of the dinner was spent in silence, Lee pondered his relationship with the Colonel, wondering if at times he was a bit too harsh with the man. After all, Lee was basically dumped on him.

He then thought, looking at his almost new family, If they can get through stuff with Joe, maybe it's time I followed suit and called the Colonel later...

TBC