Oh My Gosh

Chapter 19

The next morning as Amanda arrived for work, she gave the password to Mrs. Marston, who gave her I.D., and a congratulations for her upcoming nuptials.

Amanda smiled, and thanking her, asked, "Is Mr. Stetson in yet?"

Puzzled, Mrs. Marston queried, "Didn't he call you this morning? He had a case in Atlanta last night, and wouldn't be back until later today."

Amanda blinked for a moment, as if she hadn't heard correctly, asking, "Excuse me?"

Mrs. Marston, sensing a bit of trouble on the horizon, stated with a hand up, "Just a moment while I call Mr. Melrose to confirm..."

Mrs. Marston then dialed Billy's extension, and when Billy answered, she responded, "Mrs. King is here, and I explained about Mr. Stetson's trip. but apparently, she didn't know..."

Listening for a moment, she answered, "Yes, Sir, I'll send her right down..."

Hanging up, Mrs. Marston stated to Amanda, "Mr. Melrose needs to see you."

Amanda sighed commenting slowly, "Of course he does. Thank you, Mrs. Marston..."

A few moments later, Amanda got off the elevator at the Bullpen floor, and the Steno Pool then clapped their congratulations to Amanda, and she politely nodded her thanks as she headed for Billy's office.

-SMK-

Without knocking or waiting for an invitation to enter, Amanda strode in quickly to ask Billy in a ramble, "You had to send him on a run to Atlanta now?! We're making wedding plans! We talked last night to his uncle, The Colonel, to tell him of our news, and he was happy for us! What the Sam Hill is going on here?!"

Just then, Francine came in, and said, hearing Amanda's question, replied calmly, "It was just a simple overnighter, Amanda. Take it easy-"

But Amanda shook her head answering crisply, "That's rich, coming from someone who was left at the altar-"

Billy, seated at his desk, then put up a hand when Francine began to inject snidely about Amanda's failed first marriage, stating loudly, "Ladies, please!"

When both women were silent, Billy answered to Amanda in a gesture, "Now, Amanda...This trip Lee took was news to me as well this morning when I found out-"

Amanda gulped and queried, "Really?"

Billy nodded, answering, "Yes, and until we hear otherwise, we are to assume that he's alright, hmm? But until we do hear from the groom, how can we help you?"

Amanda sat in the chair across from Billy's desk, remarking, as Francine took a seat on the sofa, "Well, we haven't discussed where or when to get married...But, Sir, I was wondering if you'd give me away? You're the closest I have to a father, since my own is..."

Billy, with a smile, put a hand over Amanda's commenting, "I'd be honored, Dear."

Swallowing, Amanda responded, "Thank you, Sir...Um, Billy."

Then Amanda queried, looking over at Francine, "And Francine, I thought maybe you'd-"

But Francine made a motion of looking at her nails, answering sharply, "Don't worry, Amanda...I won't rain on your parade...I'm busy-"

Amanda bewildered, replied, "But I don't have a wedding date yet. But of course, when I do-"

With that, Francine stood up, and asked defiantly, "What? You actually want me there? Oh, please! I don't want a pity invite, okay? Let's not play at being friends. We never were, alright?"

Then looking at Billy, she stated, "I'm going to check with Senator Roberts at the Capitol on that forgery case..."

She left the office quickly, and Billy, shaking his head, queried carefully to Amanda, "Would you do me a favor, and please throw her a proverbial bone for your wedding? Otherwise, we'll never hear the end of it, and you know I'm not kidding..."

Amanda nodded, and getting up, walked out into the Bullpen, and seeing Francine at her desk, asked her gently, "Francine? You know, it's been an awful long time since I was first married, and so, I was wondering if you'd like to help me pick out a suitable wedding outfit?"

Francine faltered a bit, querying, "Y-You want me to help? What about your mother?"

Amanda stated, "Oh, she'll be there...I thought we'd make it a girls day, and have lunch afterwards...Please? I-I love my mother more than life itself, but there are times when..."

Francine, overwhelmed by the gesture of kindness, swallowed, commenting with a nod, and small smile,"I-I get it...S-Sure. You let me know when, and I'll be there...Thanks, Amanda."

Amanda patted Francine's shoulder lightly answering, "Of course...Wouldn't be the same without you."

And as she turned back to see Billy, he smiled and winked appreciatively, and she responded with a slight eyeroll, replying, "I'll be up in the "Q" if anyone needs me..."

Getting on the elevator a few moments later, Amanda sighed, grousing, "Oh, boy, Lee Stetson! You owe me big time for that performance! When you get your tail back here, Buster..."

-SMK-

It was near lunchtime, and Amanda was just finishing the last bits of paperwork when her desk phone rang.

Picking up the receiver, she stated, "Hello?"

Lee's baritone voice answered, "Hi...Have you had lunch yet?"

Amanda shook her head replying tersely, "No. I hear you've been busy, though. If you had a case in Atlanta, why didn't you just tell me? And don't give me that need-to-know crap, either! We've been partners for a while, and I really thought you would've been able to trust me by now-"

An impatient Lee then growled, "A-A-man-da! Will you please just listen for a second, alright?"

Amanda sighed and responded in a hurt tone, "What?"

Lee, clearing his throat, commented, "I'm at the apartment...I'm ordering Chinese for lunch, and we need to talk, okay? See you in a few minutes."

With that, Lee hung up, and Amanda staring at the receiver for a moment, hung it up, and swallowing hard, answered aloud, "Well, at least Joe had the good sense to end things with me to my face, but I dunno what Lee has in mind..."

Getting her purse out of the drawer, she got up from her chair, and left the "Q" Bureau, locking the door behind her.

Coming downstairs, she handed her I.D. to Mrs. Marston, answering, "Tell Mr. Melrose that I stepped out for a bit. Lee is back, and I'll be having lunch with him."

And as Amanda left, Mrs. Marston phoned Billy to relay the message, and Billy, thanking her, hung up the phone stating, "You'd better have one hell of a good explanation for your disappearing act, Scarecrow!"

TBC