Oh My Gosh

Chapter 18

That evening, while Lee and Amanda did the dinner dishes, they began relating their changed relationship to the Colonel.

Lee stated, drying while Amanda washed, "We were not dating at the time she met you at the restaurant when you came into town."

The Colonel, leaning against the counter, watching them, nodded, answering, "I see...So you were a buffer then, Amanda?"

Amanda, handing a plate to Lee, shrugged as she quickly glanced at the Colonel and commented, "I wouldn't say "buffer" exactly, Sir, but Lee did tell me at the time that the two of you weren't all that close, and besides, we worked together, and were friends already then, so I didn't mind helping him out..."

Colonel Clayton snorted, and shaking his head, queried to Lee, "Ahh...Less bloodshed, eh, Skip?"

Lee sighed as he put the plate on the dish rack, and touching Amanda's arm to pause her washing, folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against the sink, and facing his uncle, replied carefully, "Frankly...Yes, Sir...And, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I mean, when we can't even agree on a bottle of wine for dinner? Don't you think that's a bit much, even for us?"

The Colonel with a tilt of his head shrugged, stating slowly, "You may have a point there...But look at it from my perspective, Son...I mean, there you were, at seven years of age, already being defiant...And the relatives you did have left couldn't figure out what to do with you after your grandmother had passed, so, when I heard about your folks, I knew what needed to be done, and transitioned you to the base. Now, it wasn't the most ideal place for a child, but despite all the obstacles we went through, I think we fared pretty well, don't you?"

Lee, clearing his throat, nodded uncomfortably for a moment, remarking with a sigh, "Yes, Sir, and if I may, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you did do for me...I certainly never made it easy on you, though, did I?"

The Colonel swallowed hard, commenting matter-of-factly, " No, but that's water under the bridge...Now, instead of rehashing ancient history here, why don't you get to the point of this discussion?"

-SMK-

Lee nodded, and as Amanda turned around to take his hand, Lee stated slowly, "Well, Amanda and I had gotten closer over the last three years, and decided we wanted to be together, but this damn career doesn't make it easy. We admitted our feelings just before the Stemwinder case where we were labeled as traitors...Luckily, we made it out of that one, and began seeing each other exclusively...We kept it quiet because her family doesn't know what we really do, and it could've gotten complicated at work."

The Colonel nodded, and looking at Amanda, asked, "Well, you've been strangely silent, Amanda...Can you tell me what my nephew is trying to lead up to here?"

Lee put up a hand, replying, "Sir, it's just that-"

But the Colonel glared at Lee answering firmly, "I believe I asked Amanda, Son! You already rounded the bases, and now, it's her turn at bat!"

His attention back to Amanda, Colonel Clayton queried, "You were about to say, Amanda?"

Amanda looked at Lee, who remarked softly, "As you can see, I'm lousy at getting to the heart of things..."

Amanda smiled, and kissing his cheek answered, "Takes practice, Sweetheart."

She then turned her attention back to Colonel Clayton, saying slowly, " Sir... As Lee started to say, we'd been seeing each other for a while, and a few months ago, he proposed to me, and I accepted...Well, a few weeks ago, I wasn't feeling right, so I had a home pregnancy test done, which said I was positive, but when I went to my regular doctor, he said it was a false positive. Then he called me the next day and said the lab had made a mistake, that I was indeed pregnant, and Lee had me checked again at the Agency to make sure...Sir, it definitely wasn't planned, but we are getting married, and we've already told my family, so everyone's on board with it now..."

Seeing a look of stunned surprise on the Colonel's face, Lee commented, "We-We really weren't trying to keep you out of anything, Sir! It-It was just as shocking to us, believe me...But we are making concrete plans-"

After a moment of silence, Colonel Clayton asked, "So when is it due, Amanda?"

Amanda responded softly, "In almost six months now, Sir."

Colonel Clayton, looking at his watch, stated, "Fine...When you nail down a date for your wedding, let me know so your gifts can arrive on schedule. Now, I'm afraid I have to shove off...Thank you for your hospitality this evening, and I hope we can do it again some time..."

Kissing Amanda's cheek, Colonel Clayton answered, "Congratulations, Dear. I wish you nothing but the best..."

Then, looking at Lee, he gestured as he queried, "Walk me out?"

Lee nodded, answering, "Yes, Sir," and shrugged at Amanda, and asided, "Be back in a minute...," not knowing what to make of the Colonel's reaction to their news!

-SMK-

As they walked to the Colonel's car, his aides waiting, Lee responded, "Colonel...Wait..."

The Colonel turning around on the driveway to face his nephew asked, "What is it, Son?"

Lee, swallowing, answered humbly, "Our differences aside, I really hope you can be here for the wedding...You know, since Mom and Dad-"

The Colonel, putting up a hand, replied softly, "I understand, Lee...Look...You know what I said about your taste improving that night back then at dinner?"

Lee gulped, remarking, "Yes, Sir?"

The Colonel stated warmly with a gesture, " Well, it's only improved by leaps and bounds after what I've witnessed tonight...You've grown into someone I'm indeed proud to call my nephew...Congratulations, Lee..."

Lee, overwhelmed in the moment, answered falteringly, "Th-Thank you, Col-Uncle Bob..."

They then shared a manly hug, and the Colonel then got into the car, and left.

As Lee stood there, stymied by what just occurred, he then heard Amanda's voice beside him as she asked, "Are you alright, Lee?"

Lee, looking finally at Amanda, shrugged, stating, "He looks like my uncle, but what he said just now threw me for a loop, Amanda."

Amanda worriedly queried, "What did he say, Sweetheart?"

Lee, letting out a deep sigh, replied, " That-That he's proud to have me for a nephew, and then congratulated me on our news."

Amanda, smiling then, went into Lee's arms with a chuckle, stating, "Of course he did! Didn't I tell you that any man would be proud to have you for a son?"

Lee, embarrassedly groaned as he returned her hug, responding, "Y-Yeah, yeah, you did..."

Pulling back for a moment, Lee kissed Amanda, and commented, "Hey...Thank you, and thank the family for making the night a success, huh? It's late. I gotta go...I love you."

Amanda remarked, "I love you, too...The hard part's over, okay? Now, we just have to plan when we want to get married, huh?"

Lee stared at Amanda, and then stated quickly as he got into his car, "Oh, yeah, I'll get right on that...See you tomorrow, Honey..."

And as Amanda watched Lee leave the neighborhood, she thought, going back into the house to turn in for the night, Oh boy...Maybe he's not ready for all this change...

TBC