In Limbo

Chapter 39

Joe had stunned Amanda by revealing that he pretty much knew what she did for a living, and while she sat there trying to think of something to say in her defense, Joe asked, "Why didn't you just come with me to Africa from the beginning? Then we wouldn't have had all this trouble."

Amanda shook her head saying incredulously, "Because if you recall at the time, Phillip was only five, and Jamie was three! I wasn't about to subject them to that kind of world, especially going through the immunizations we would all need, and the conditions alone would have frightened them anyway-"

Joe cut her off irritatedly stating, "Oh, they would've adjusted! Besides, your job isn't exactly run of the mill, either! I heard things that didn't exactly secure my confidence-"

Amanda bristled, "Meaning what?"

As their sudden argument continued, and their voices became louder, they had forgotten that Dotty and the boys were still in the kitchen, and Dotty, hearing the loud exchange, said to the boys, "Stay right here, Fellas...I'll see what's going on, alright?"

Amanda continued harshly, "My problem, you mean? As in trying to find a job so I support our kids because you wanted to stop living here?"

Then Joe blurted out angrily, "There wouldn't have been a problem if we hadn't had those kids-"

Suddenly, the back door opened, and a stunned Dotty stated crisply, "Joseph King! I can't believe what I just heard! I think it's time you left! "

Amanda, seeing her mother, was shocked then to also see the boys open the back door wider, and stepping out in front of their grandmother, Phillip swallowed, querying, "Really, Dad? So, you really didn't want us?"

Joe shook his head, realizing the error in his words and Amanda shaking her head, rose from the picnic bench answering softly to Phillip as she looked at him, and then her ex-husband, "Sweetheart, that was wrong of him to say, and I know your dad didn't mean it...Did you, Joe?"

Swallowing hard, Joe stated with tears in his eyes as he glared at his ex-wife, "Of-Of course not! You just got me so mad here, I-"

Amanda sighed, responding slowly, "Well, that's when people are most honest...I remember telling Lee that when he and I argued one time a while back...Um, you know what? It's late, and Mother's right...We need time to cool down, and then you and I will discuss amending this custody arrangement we have...I'll call the lawyer in the morning, and we'll work it out then...Good night, Joe."

Turning away from him, she said to the boys, "Go on up, Guys...I'll be upstairs in a minute, huh?"

-SMK-

The boys went to hug Amanda, and then staring painfully at Joe, turned and went back into the house, and upstairs, while Dotty watched Joe as he took one last look at the family, and leave through the back gate without another word.

Dotty then saw her usually strong daughter sit back down on the picnic bench and begin to cry!

Going over to Amanda, she wrapped her arms around her and remarked gently, "I'm so sorry, Panda...That was an awful thing for him to say! I'm also sorry the boys had to hear that...They at least know that we love them! What started all this anyway?"

Amanda, wiping her eyes, cleared her throat answering,, "Oh, Joe thought if I had just agreed to go to Africa from the beginning the way he wanted, that things between us would've worked out better."

Dotty, bewildered, commented, "Well, when you and Joe worked out the custody arrangements, he agreed that they would be raised here after all, so why did he bring that up, for heaven's sake?"

Just then the phone rang, and Dotty, patting Amanda's shoulder soothingly answered, "I'll get it, Darling...Why don't you come back in now, and I'll make you some tea or hot cocoa, hmm?"

Amanda replied, "Okay, Mother."

And as Dotty went back inside the house, Amanda rose slowly from the bench, and following her, thought sadly, Damn you, Joe! If only you knew how much you broke those boys' hearts tonight...

Closing the back door as she came in, Amanda heard Dotty say, "It's Lee, Dear...I'll go check on the boys, and be back down."

As Dotty headed up, Amanda took the receiver and answered, "Hi."

Lee yawning, replied, "Hi...Just wanted to say thanks for helping me with the new office, and yeah, I know it's slow going so far, but we'll get it shaped up in no time. So, how was dinner?"

Amanda commented quietly, "Joe's in town, and he had dinner with us because apparently the boys called him from school a few days ago...Um, have you eaten?"

Lee replied slowly, "I was about to fix a sandwich...Are...Are you okay?"

Amanda said flatly, "No. Look, I'll tell Mother I'm coming over to see you, because we need to talk...Bye."

And before Lee could ask anything further, Amanda had hung up!

Lee thought worriedly, Uh oh...What the hell happened over there tonight?

TBC