In Limbo

Chapter 32

By the end of the following week, Amanda and her family were moved back into their Arlington home. The boys, after unpacking the boxes in their bedroom, had helped their mother and grandmother with the final moving boxes for the den. Afterwards, Amanda said to them that afternoon after lunch, "Okay, Fellas. Thank you so much for all the help you've given us here. You deserve some down time, so why don't you head to the park now for a while?"

Jamie asked, looking at the stacks of books, "Are you sure, Mom? You still have a ton of books here, and-"

Phillip answered, looking at Jamie, "She's letting us go out. It's a good thing, trust me!"

Amanda, grinning at their comments, replied, "Yes, it is a good thing, Sweetheart, so why don't you go before Grandma and I find something else-"

With that, they yelled, "Thanks, Mom! Bye!", and quickly tore out of the house with their signature slam of the front door!

As Amanda laughed and shook her head, Dotty groaned, responding, "I thought we already talked to them about slamming that door, Darling?"

Amanda shrugged, replying, "They're boys, Mother. It comes with the territory. Now, Jamie had a point. There are a lot of books here that we should go through and maybe either give away or sell. What do you think?"

Dotty, eyeing a box at the far corner of the room and walking toward it, queried with a gesture, "Well, do you think the boys will want to read your old Nancy Drew books? Or even Sky Chief Rides Again?"

Amanda put up a hand remarking defensively, "Hey! Nancy Drew is classic! And don't make me give Sky Chief away! You know I love that book!"

Dotty smiled, stating, "Ahh, I see. So are you now hinting that you might have another child someday that might be interested in either of those? A girl would be absolutely wonderful, I think. Of course I love those boys, but if you and Lee are-"

Amanda, suddenly blushing, answered quickly with a wave of her hand to change the subject, "M-Mother, please stop! Lee and I are just dating, that's all. Alright, forget it...We'll just find a spot in the attic somewhere for now, okay?"

Dotty with a wry grin commented, " Dating, hmm? Alright, the subject is dropped...For now at least-"

Amanda shaking her head, stated, "Oh, Mother, you're incorrigible!"

Dotty giggled replying, "So are you, Dear...Every time you take on a plumbing repair project-"

Amanda, then crossing her arms over her chest, answered stubbornly , "I do it to try to save money on repair men. They're not exactly cheap, you know."

Dotty shrugged, adding, "I know, Dear, but when you "attempt"to repair things, I wind up calling a service person anyway so we have a working faucet or shower-"

-SMK-

Just then, the phone rang in the kitchen, and Amanda walking toward it, stated, "Just the distraction I need."

She answered picking up the receiver, "Hello?"

It was Lee who replied, "Hi...How's the unpacking going?"

Amanda remarked, " Hi, Stranger! Well, we're nearly done. Just finishing putting the den back in order...So, are you home?"

Lee cleared his throat and commented, "N-Not quite...Still have a few things to clear up here in Chicago."

Amanda queried with surprise, "What? What things? You were going to let your boss know you were done...In fact, I thought you'd get home long before this-"

Lee remarked quickly, "I-I know, but they're having trouble finding a replacement for me...I moved my stuff back to D.C. already, but right now I'm at the hotel near the Tribune...I'm sorry. I know what we talked about, but-"

Amanda replied cooly, "What you said was that I should tell my boss in Trenton that I got a much better offer...Well, I did that, so why can't you do the same? For heaven's sake, Lee! Just tell them who you really are-"

Lee answered quickly, "I did already! And although Mark appreciated my belated honesty, he said they were stuck anyway."

Amanda confused, asked, "What about that Sandy person that works there? Can't she do it?"

Lee chuckled lightly replied, "Ah, well...Seems while I was in D.C., she ticked off more than a few readers with her reply skills in the column."

Amanda commented, "Oh, no!"

Lee sighed responding, "Y-Yeah...You remember her answer to your mother's letter?"

Amanda queried, "They want to deal with her directly, too?"

Lee stated, "N-No, but there's talk of lawsuits already...Higher ups there have told Mark to either get a replacement or they'll shut down the column permanently."

Amanda sighed, answering, "Oh my gosh!"

Lee commented, "Yeah...Hey, look, I really am sorry for the delay. But I promise I'll call you-"

Amanda replied tiredly, "Right...Just do what you have to do so you can come back for good...By the way, did you call Billy and tell him your good news?"

Lee sighed commenting deflatedly, "Yeah, and he was as thrilled as you are about it."

Then looking at his watch, he answered, "Well, I've gotta get back...I told them I'd be back after lunch...Hey...I miss you."

Amanda swallowed hard commenting softly, "I-I miss you, too. Bye, bye..."

Lee responded quietly, "Bye..."

They both hung up, and Amanda, getting a tissue, dabbed at her now damp eyes, and Dotty queried, "What happened, Sweetheart?"

Amanda stated, "Lee's still in Chicago...He's helping out the paper until they get a replacement."

Dotty, incredulous, asked, "But wasn't he supposed to-"

Amanda, shaking her head, replied, " Yes, but what's that old saying? "The best laid plans of mice and men", etc?"

Dotty shrugged remarking, "Oh, well...He'll get here when he can, right? Who's Billy, by the way?"

Amanda answered, "Billy Melrose is our IFF boss...And I will be heading back there in the morning."

Dotty patted her daughter's arm, "Good, Dear...It will keep your mind occupied until Lee returns..."

And Amanda, going back over to unpack another box, sighed muttering, "Yeah, whenever that is...

TBC