In Limbo

Chapter 5

As Amanda was finishing her coffee that Monday morning, she recalled the phone conversation with Joe on Friday night...

Amanda had told Joe the news of the move and the Government's order of new identities for the boys and Dotty, and herself, and Joe answered numbly, "How-How is it possible? Look, let me call someone in the State Department, and you-you won't have to-"

But Amanda responded firmly, "No, Joe! I'm telling you that the Government said it's the best thing for everyone if we all relocate! IFF was shut down completely, and they don't know where the person is...They said he or she went underground, which means they could be anywhere! Now, let me put you on with the boys, because the movers will be here bright and early tomorrow morning, and they have to get some sleep. We'rer leaving tomorrow because I start the new job on Monday, alright?"

Joe replied slowly,"O-Okay, Amanda...But will you call me once you get settled, so I can come see the boys?"

Amanda commented softly, "Of course I will...Bye, Joe...Here's Phillip..."

Handing the receiver to Phillip, she said, "Remember, not too long, because you guys need to sleep, huh?"

Kissing both boys, she left the room, and heading downstairs, turned on the kitchen light, deciding to fix herself some tea.

-SMK-

Filling the kettle with water at the sink, she then brought it over to the stove, and then turning on the burner, got out a cup, and then heard Dotty come down the steps, querying, "Can you get a cup for me as well?"

Amanda nodded, answering as she got another cup from the cabinet, "I'm sorry. I thought you were asleep already?"

Dotty, shaking her head, swallowed as she joined her daughter at the stove, and getting another tea packet, asked, "Who can sleep with everything going on here? Oh, Darling, are you sure there isn't anything we can do?"

Amanda gulped at her mother's pained expression, adding her own shake of the head, commenting, "N-No, Mother...I'm so sorry, but please believe me...We're gonna be alright, huh?"

As they shared a warm hug, they then heard first, the tea kettle whistling, then Phillip coming down the stairs, asking tearfully. "Mom? Can-Can you hang up with Dad now? We-We just can't..."

Amanda, letting go of Dotty, went to hug Phillip, answering, "Of course, Sweetheart...Is Jamie-"

Phillip, wiping his eyes with his pajama sleeve, answered, "He's-He's waiting for you...He's crying, Mom..."

Amanda nodded, and gesturing to Dotty, responded, "You stay down here with Grandma, okay? I'll be right back...Gosh, I guess no one's ready to sleep yet..."

-SMK-

Meanwhile, up in Amanda's room, Jamie was querying sadly, "Are you sure you'll be able to see us, Dad?"

Joe answered, clearing his throat, "Nothing is gonna stop me, okay? Your mom and I are working on that...I promise...As soon as you get settled, she's gonna let me know, and I'll be there, alright?"

Jamie gulped, saying tearfully as Amanda came into the room,"Yeah, okay, Dad...I love you."

Joe stated, "I love you too, Pal..."

Amanda took the receiver from Jamie, and kissing his cheek, said, "Grandma's downstairs. You go join your brother there also, and I'll be down soon, okay?"

Getting back on, as Jamie left, she answered, "Joe? You still there?"

Joe replied, "Yeah, Honey...I still can't believe all this...Are you sure I can't do anything?"

Amanda sighed, commenting, "I'm sure, but it's sweet of you to offer-"

Joe, bewilderedly asked, "Offer? They're my kids, too, Amanda! Of course I'm gonna help. I know how much they're gonna miss that house...I will, too."

Amanda queried, "You will? I don't see how, considering how it turned out with us-"

Joe sighed responding, "Well, if you had just agreed to move to Estoccia with me, we wouldn't be where we are today, and-"

Amanda stated calmly, "Alright, Joe...Let's not rehash things here. I can't deal with that tonight."

Joe commented, "Okay, you're right...Well, I'll let you go...You take care now."

Amanda gulped, "You too, Joe...Bye."

Hanging up, Amanda answered,"Guess he forgot it became my house when we ended it."

Dotty then called up, "Amanda? Are you coming down?"

Amanda, wiping her now damp eyes, stated, "On my way."

When she came down, Dotty answered, "I was going to make the boys some hot chocolate, but, as usual, I can't find the marshmallows...Tell me, are you going to continue hiding them in the new place?"

Amanda , avoiding the question, gestured to the boys, saying, "You go into the family room, while I bring the hot chocolate out to you...Go on now..."

As they headed to the family room, Dotty responded, "I still remember the first Trailblazer meeting you took the boys to...They were so cute in their outfits-"

Phillip and Jamie groaned aloud, "Aw, Grandma..."

Dotty then commented, "Ohh! And you remember the first skunk we encountered?!"

Amanda and the boys then laughed, and Phillip answered, "All our clothes stunk for more then a week! It was really gross!"

As Amanda soon brought over the hot chocolate, they all found themselves looking at old photo albums and reminiscing well into the early morning...

TBC