In Limbo

Chapter 6

As Amanda was heading off to her new job that Monday morning, she had time in rush hour, to recall the weekend events as she and her family had prepared to leave their Arlington home to set out to Trenton, NJ to start their new life there...

Amanda was surprised when a limo arrived for her family's ride to the airport that Saturday morning! The driver, named Mike, parking in the King driveway, handed a note to Amanda stating, "Your vehicle is in another van I was told already, but I was instructed to give you this..."

Amanda opened it, and read it, as it said:

Dear Amanda,

I shall never forget all the time and sacrifice you gave to help our Agency and country over the years, and have always considered you like one of my own daughters. Please accept this farewell gift to Dulles, and to the new destination as I wish you the best of luck in your future.

Yours Sincerely,

William Melrose

Amanda, finishing reading the note, gulped, and Dotty, seeing her overwhelmed expression, queried, "What is it, Darling?"

Amanda sighed, answering with a shake of her head, " Oh my gosh! I wasn't expecting this at all! My former boss arranged to have this limo take us to the airport, and also, when we arrive, we'll get one to our new home!"

Dotty,with surprise,replied, "Well, that's certainly very generous! You'll have to-"

Suddenly seeing the boys getting in and out of the limo, Dotty yelled out to them, "Boys! Stop that this instant! We'll be leaving soon! Come over here!"

Phillip and Jamie, turning towards their mother and grandmother, groaned, and coming towards Dotty, Phillip answered, "Gee, Grandma! We were just checking it out. It's cool!"

Amanda, shaking her head, stated firmly, "It may be cool, but it isn't ours to mess with! Now, go grab your jackets and suitcases, and Grandma and I will get ours...Move it!"

When everything was done, and they were in the limo, Jamie answered, "Wait, Mom! Our pictures! In the back yard! You promised!"

Amanda, checking her watch, stated with a sigh, "Gosh, Sweetie! I forgot, but we don't have time to-"

The driver, Mike, put up a hand, commenting, "No problem, Mrs. King...We have plenty of time, and I'll even be your photographer..."

So, the family had first a photo in the front of the house, and then at the tree house in the back, and finally, on their back patio.

Amanda stated to Mike,"Thank you so much for your time with all this. We really appreciate it, right, Fellas?"

The boys nodded, and Jamie asked, "Can we get these developed today, Mom?"

But Amanda shook her head, answering, "In New Jersey, we will. I promise...C'mon. let's get to the limo, huh?"

But as they went out the back gate, and her family went ahead of her with Mike, Amanda turned to take one last look at the back yard, particularly at the gazebo, and began to cry!

Dotty , seeing Amanda upset, said to Mike and the boys, "You all go ahead...We'll be there soon, alright?"

As they left, Dotty, approaching her daughter, gathered her in an embrace, stating, soothingly, "It's alright, Panda...It's going to be alright...Shh..."

But Amanda knew what was really upsetting her was not only the move and the memories she shared with her ex, Joe, and the family, but thinking about Lee, and how the possible future they could have had together was taken so unfairly, and how many more quiet moments they could've shared in her back yard!

Dotty, handing Amanda a tissue out of her pants pocket, replied softly, "Darling...I know it hurts when change comes, but it does, and we just have to do our best to go with it and adapt...I had to, when your daddy left us, and I had to sell our family home, and move in with you, remember? But look at what I gained from that experience...Watching my two beautiful grandsons growing up!"

As Dotty held onto her, Amanda chuckled, answering as she blew her nose, "Oh, Mother! I do love you, and understand what you're trying to tell me. I will be okay, but I don't think the boys like being referred to as beautiful- at least not to their faces."

Dotty chuckled, and with a shake of her head stated, "Oh, heavens no! I let that slip one time when Phillip was six, I believe, and he slapped his little hand on the kitchen table and said, "Grandma! Jamie and I are good looking like Dad, but Mom is beautiful, got it?"

Amanda and Dotty then shared a laugh, and Amanda, clearing her throat replied, looking at her watch, answered sadly, "Well...Now it's really time to go...You sure we'll be alright?"

Dotty kissed Amanda's temple, responding gently, taking Amanda's hand as they slowly walked out of the back yard towards the driveway, "Of course, Sweetheart...Remember. This was not your decision! It was the Government's, so I say, we blame them if it all goes south on us, hmm? Come on..."

-SMK-

Suddenly, a honk from behind Amanda in the traffic alerted her that they were moving again, and she gave an apologetic wave to the driver, mouthing, "Sorry", as she moved on.

Checking her watch, she was still okay on time, and made it to the new office within another ten minutes.

Finding a parking space, she pulled in, and parking, gathered her purse, and folder for the new job, and got out.

Distractedly, Amanda took a look where the entrance was, and began to head in that direction, when a car suddenly beeped, the driver slamming on the brakes, startling her, making her drop her folder and the papers inside!

A woman then getting out of the car, yelled and asked, "Hey! How stupid are you?! Didn't you see me coming? What's wrong with you?"

Amanda, shaking her head, stated quickly, as she crouched down to gather the folder and papers, "I-I'm so sorry! It's my first day, and I guess I wasn't paying attention..."

With everything now intact, Amanda rose from the parking lot, and genuinely smiled replying as she offered her hand, "Hi. It's nice to meet you...I'm Beth Blake-"

The woman, ignoring Amanda's hand, sighed and answered crisply, "Bully for you! Because of this little interruption, I'm late for an orientation meeting-"

Then she faltered slightly, and swallowed, answering as she looked Amanda up and down carefully, " Wait...D-Don't tell me...First day? Ooh.."

Sighing deeply, she shook her head, and apologizing, said, "I'm-I'm sorry...We're meeting on the wrong foot here...Terri Martin-"

Amanda, quickly scanning the first document, sighed, replying softly, "As in Theresa Martin? My new boss?"

She then shook her head, and slowly offering her hand once more, answered with a slight smile, "Elizabeth Blake, but you can call me Beth..."

After Terri had parked her car finally, Amanda stated,hopefully, "You know, not now, but maybe in a year, if I last that long , we might be able to laugh about this one day, huh?"

Terri, giving her a sidelong look as they entered the building, replied derisively, "Maybe...And that's a strong maybe!"

Amanda groaned inwardly, thinking to herself, Way to go on your first day! Hope the rest of the day doesn't sink...

TBC