In Limbo

Chapter 36

As Lee and Amanda were out in the gazebo talking after dinner, they were interrupted by a surprise visitor, who was none other than Amanda's ex-husband, Joe King!

Amanda went to greet him, asking, "Is everything all right? What are you doing here?"

Joe stated with a hand up, answering, "Everything's fine, Amanda...I just came to see the boys."

Amanda looked at her watch, and looking back at Joe, she shrugged, replying slowly, "I-I'm sorry, Joe, but they're asleep now...Maybe if you came back in the morning before they leave for school..."

Joe, looking at his watch, shook his head, commenting, "Damn. I forgot about the time difference tonight...I'm sorry I interrupted-"

But as Joe turned to leave, Amanda responded quickly, "Wait...As long as you're here, Joe, this is Lee Stetson...Lee, this is my ex-husband, Joe King."

Lee swallowed, and coming towards the two, shook Joe's hand, answering, "Nice to meet you, Joe...But it's okay. You didn't interrupt...I was just getting ready to leave anyway since it's getting late."

Joe, returning the handshake, queried carefully, "Nice to meet you as well. But I couldn't help overhearing when I reached the back gate here about you not wanting to go down a road concerning me? Care to elaborate?"

As Amanda sensed trouble ahead, wishing she were anywhere else but there at that moment, Lee, seeing Amanda's uncomfortable stance, remarked calmly, "It's just that Amanda and I met a few years ago at IFF, and we had only started dating a few months ago when the whole relocation thing went down. And now that we're back, we're trying to get reaquainted again."

Joe nodded, saying, "Ahh...I get it. You don't want to spoil things by talking about old girlfriends and ex-husbands too soon, right?"

Amanda, surprised at the comment, admonished him quickly, "Joe!"

But Lee, putting up a hand, stated quickly, "A-Amanda. It's alright. He's got a point there...Anyway, I'll be going now. You two also have catching up to do...Good night..."

And as Lee headed for the back gate, Amanda in a hushed tone, pointed to the picnic table on the patio, remarking to Joe, "I'm walking him out...I'll be right back."

-SMK-

When Amanda and Lee got to Lee's car, she answered, "I'm sorry...I didn't know he would be here, but he is Phillip and Jamie's father-"

Lee shook his head replying quietly, "I-I'm not disputing that, Honey. It's just that we always seem to be interrupted one way or another, and I'm getting tired of it, aren't you?"

Amanda sighed as she went into his arms for a hug, responding, "You better believe it, Mister."

Pulling back, they shared one last kiss, and then Lee got into his car, with Amanda stating, "Don't worry...I'll find out what's going on and let you know. I love you."

Lee answered, "I love you, too...See you tomorrow."

Amanda watched him pull out of the driveway, and leave the neighborhood, and she headed back to the patio, where she saw Joe sitting with a drink then.

Amanda asked, "Let me guess...Mother?"

Joe nodded as Amanda sat down across from him, and he replied, "Yeah, but she went upstairs again. She knows we have to talk."

Amanda queried, "Okay, so what's going on, Joe?"

Joe commented, "I think the boys are worried about you. They called me a couple of days ago from school to see if I would come visit-"

Amanda shook her head saying crisply, "I'm fine! Besides, they know better than to call you unless they get permission from Mother or me! I'm so sorry they pulled you away from-"

But Joe answered quickly, "Amanda! It's alright! I'm just glad it's not more serious, that's all."

Amanda replied, "Well, I will speak to them about this anyway, because it sounds like they're more worried about all the changes they've just been through."

Joe nodded and taking a sip of his drink and swallowing, then asked, "And how do they like Stetson?"

Amanda perplexed, queried, "What does that have to do with it?"

Joe shrugged, responding, "Well, that's a big enough change, don't you think? I remember you telling me about Dean McGuire and how Phillip didn't like him all that well-"

Amanda jumped in, stating, "You and I had only been divorced a year at that time...He was just adjusting, that's all, and besides, what does that have to do with now?"

Joe sighed, and putting up a hand answered, "Easy...I was just thinking that anyone we're seeing is bound to bother the boys anyway."

Amanda nodded, asking, "Is that your way of telling me you've met someone?"

Joe sighed, and putting his glass down, looked at his watch commenting as he got up from the picnic table bench, "No...I'm just giving you food for thought here...See you tomorrow...Good night."

He left through the back gate without another word, and Amanda got up from the picnic table bench, and taking the glass Joe left, thought, What got into him?

TBC