In Limbo
Chapter 21
The patrons and workers all were mystified but delighted at Lee and Amanda's embrace, and finally, Dotty hissed, "Will you two please come back to the table before I send someone for a hose?!"
Lee and Amanda stepped back, and holding one another's hands, came back to sit in the booth opposite Dotty, who blushed, stating to all in the restaurant, "Um, high school sweethearts..."
Everyone clapped, and Amanda with an embarrassed sigh, shook her head commenting, "Really, Mother?"
Dotty answered impatiently, "Well, what was I supposed to tell them? That we're fugitives from the Government?"
Amanda shushed her, replying quickly, "No! Stop it! We are not fugitives, but-"
Dotty waved it away, commenting, "I know, I know...We had to leave for safety reasons, blah, blah, blah-"
Amanda stated to Lee with a shrug, "Sorry about this."
Looking at Dotty, Amanda remarked, "Mother, look...Lee is the man that I told you I knew from IFF...He had to move away as well, and-"
Amanda then looked at Lee strangely, querying, "Wa-Wait a minute...How is it you wound up here of all places? Have you been here this whole time and I just never saw you, or-"
Lee squeezing her hand, responded carefully, "N-No, Honey...I've been in Chicago...As an advice columnist for-"
Amanda groaned, answering, "Oh, don't tell me...The "Ask Penny" column? Ooh!"
Dotty commented, "You see, Dear, I complained about the letter response to our local paper, but I hadn't heard back...until today when Chuck, er, Lee, called and asked if we could meet to fix this."
Seeing a strange look on Amanda's face, Dotty asked, "What's the matter, Darling?"
-SMK-
Amanda, clearing her throat remarked in a ramble, "Well, actually, I found out a few days ago, Mother...See, you were out when the Trentonian paper called with a message explaining that the column originated from Chicago and all concerns were to be sent there, but they did leave you the Chicago number...However, I didn't tell you because I wanted to find out for myself why you wrote that letter, hence our talk the other day."
Dotty, throwing her hands in the air, sighed querying, "Amanda Jean! We could've avoided all this nonsense if you had just told me, and then Chuck here-"
Lee remarked, "Lee-"
Dotty continued, "Lee-thank you-wouldn't have had to fly out here at all!"
Lee cleared his throat, and putting a hand up, stated, "It's okay, but now that this is cleared up, let me go call my boss in Chicago and tell him we resolved this.."
Lee got out of the booth, and Amanda got up as well, asking worriedly, "Hey, wait a minute...Are you gonna leave...Just like that?"
Lee sighed, and pulling her close, kissed her, commenting, "No...They gave me a week to work this out, but I have to talk to the local guy here anyway to thank him for his help with all this...I'll meet you back here in half an hour, okay?"
Amanda nodded, and as Lee headed out, Dee came to the table with the sandwiches, querying to both ladies, "I know it took a while, but was it something I said?"
Amanda shook her head commenting, "No. In fact, he'll be back in half an hour. He had to call his boss."
Dotty then answered, getting up, "And it's my cue to leave-"
Amanda shook her head replying, "No, Mother, I-"
But Dotty firmly stated, "Look, you two need to catch up...Dee can wrap my sandwich to go, and leave Lee's right here, okay? Besides, the boys will be home shortly anyway, alright?"
Kissing Amanda's cheek, she gestured to Dee, "Let's go, Dee..."
So, as they walked away, Amanda sat finishing Dotty's iced tea, when Neil came over to the table asking, "Hey, Beth...Want anything to eat? Where did Audrey go?"
Amanda said, " Hi, Neil...The boys will be home from school soon...I'm going to wait for my friend, though...Can you just bring me a Caesar salad, please?"
Neil winked, answering, "You got it. I'll get you another iced tea, too."
Amanda thanked him as he left, and thought, Well, we found each other again, Lee...But what will this mean for us? How do we fix this?
She and Lee had a lot to talk over when he returned...
TBC